By Damilola Akinmolayan

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The Ondo State government said it will soon commence awards for Family Planning Champions in communities across the state to create demand for family planning services at government health facilities.
The Champions will serve as role model for people at the grassroots and source of encouragement for others to embrace family planning methods.
Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu stated this while receiving family planning equipment and materials from Rotary Action for Reproductive Maternal and Child Health in Akure.
Akanbiemu who was represented by the Director Medical Services, Dr. Paulinus Omode, expressed appreciation to the donor saying government cannot do it all alone, hence the need for individuals and non governmental organizations to support its efforts at bringing qualitative health care delivery to the people.
He said the government of Akeredolu was very particular about improving sexual, reproductive, maternal and child health services in the state including family planning services, noting that through government strategic interventions, Total Contraceptive Prevalence (CPR) has increased tremendously from 20.1% in 2018 to 31.2% in 2020, which was far above the National average.
While thanking the organization for consistently supporting the vision of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on provision of equipment, life saving health commodities and infrastructures in the state, Akanbiemu said health personnels at the Facilities had been trained to effectively handle them.
Handing over the Equipment to the Agency, the National Coordinator, Rotary International Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) Prof, Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju said the organization noted that the State government alone could not fund the health sector considering the chunk of money required, thus the need for non governmental organizations like Rotary International and individuals to support government through provision of equipment and commodities.
Prof. Lufadeju who was represented by the immediate past president of Rotary Club of Ondo, Rotarian Adedoyin Agbede said Rotary International has been implementing Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health project since 1994 and had sixty journalists from the print, radio, television and social media who were trained and instructed on effective reporting on reproductive, maternal and child health issues, especially family planning across the country.