REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
29/09/26. CONTRACEPTIVES / ANAMBRA
Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening reproductive health services and ensuring improved access to contraceptive services.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike stated this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Contraception Day with the theme, “No Barriers, Just Choices: Contraceptive Access Now.”
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Obidike, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, emphasised that access to contraception goes beyond the availability of commodities to include the need for accurate information, quality for safe and effective family planning methods.
Dr Obidike noted that the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed that 15 per cent of currently married women aged 15 to 49 years in Anambra had an unmet need for family planning.
According to him, although the figure places the state among those with the lowest unmet need in the country, the government remains committed to addressing the remaining gaps.
He disclosed that 146,183 clients were counselled on family planning in the state in 2025, with 44,615 new acceptors recorded.
In an interview the Assistant Family Planning Coordinator in the Ministry, Chioma Okedo, identified myths, misconceptions, cultural and religious beliefs as major barriers to the use of contraceptives and adoption of family planning practices by some couples
She noted that some people wrongly believe that the use of contraceptives causes infertility or death, while some men hold cultural views that women who use family planning could become unfaithful.
Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that officials and staff of the ministry also embarked walk along some major roads in Awka to create awareness and encourage residents to access appropriate family planning services
