MSI-Nigeria Reproductive Choices has launched the Reproductive Health and Pandemic Resilience Project in Kebbi State.
Speaking on the occasion, the Country Director of the MSI Nigeria, Emmanuel Ajah, said the project was designed to contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths from complications of unplanned pregnancies.
He said it also aimed at access, acceptability, and quality of integrated reproductive health services across five implementing states, with Kebbi among and at the national level.
According to him, the programme would provide services such as family planning, cervical cancer, menstrual health, and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as norm-change interventions designed to facilitate community support and create an enabling environment for services to be provided and received by women.
While describing menstrual hygiene management as a critical aspect of adolescent health, the country director said the project would work with schools and communities to provide menstrual health education and products to adolescent girls in the affected states.
Ajah pointed out that the project will contribute to the government’s goal of screening at least 50% of eligible women for cervical cancer, providing a continuum of care for cervical cancer clients, and educating communities on cervical cancer.
He stated that the project launched in Kebbi State would support one outreach team that goes to rural and underserved locations to offer lifesaving services and the setting up of 40 medical staff who will work in underserved locations in Kebbi State.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar, acknowledged the contribution of MSI-Nigeria towards providing free reproductive health services to women in the state.
He urged them to widen collaboration with other health partners on the current HRV vaccines against cervical cancer and other reproductive diseases in the state.
