Justina Asishana, Minna
DESPITE the restriction of movement in Niger State, there has been increased patronage in family planning activities in primary health centres across Niger State.
A visit to some primary health centres (PHCs) in Chachanga, Bosso and Maikunkele showed a surge in the patronage for family planning services. The investigation revealed that there has been an increase in the number of clients who visited family planning units in the various clinics in the last two months.
The Nation discovered that before the COVID-19 pandemic situation, there were usually few clients but these family planning units now receive double of its usual number of clients during the window period given by the state government for people to come out.
At the model clinic in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, the nurse in charge of family planning, Sarah Makus, told The Nation that although the patronage is not as much as last year during this lockdown period, they have noticed an increase in the number of clients than other months.
“We had an increase in patronage but not as much as we had last year. But during this period, the last two months, we have had increased in clients’ patronage. We are getting people this period; most especially men. These days, our condoms do not last as they used to before.
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Sarah further explained that a lot of the women have been coming for the short term plan like implants and pills while the men come to demand for condoms.
In Maikunkele Primary Healthcare Center, the Second-in- Charge, Mr. David Monbai, told our reporter that despite the presence of COVID-19, the clients still come for family planning services adding that they have also recorded an increase in new clients.
“Clients still come to the facility for family planning despite the presence of COVID-19.”
At the Family Support Programme (FSP) Clinic in Limawa, Minna, the second-in-command, Hassana Hussaini, said the number of men who were attended to for condoms has also increased.
She added that others send their wives to collect for them stating that this was not something that happened usually in the past.
“The rate of people coming to the Family Planning Unit is now higher than before. I think they do not want lock down to lock them,” he said.
Explaining further, Hassana said that most of the women who came to the clinic prefer going for the two months injectibles which enables them to conceive after some months.
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