The Delta State Government has issued a stern warning to healthcare providers offering family planning services to underage girls, emphasizing that such actions are illegal without parental or guardian consent.
This was highlighted by the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Ohwovoriole Ekemejero SAN, during an event marking World Contraception Day in Asaba. Represented by Mrs. Patricia Akanagwuna, Director of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, the AG stressed that medical personnel who provide family planning to minors without proper consent would face prosecution.
“According to the law, any doctor administering family planning to minors without the approval of their parents or guardians will be prosecuted,” said Ohwovoriole. He reiterated that the legal framework does not support such actions without appropriate consent.
However, he also encouraged healthcare professionals to respect women’s rights to make informed reproductive health decisions free from coercion, while also safeguarding confidentiality.
Delta State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, emphasized the importance of family planning, highlighting that the World Contraception Day event aimed to raise awareness about individuals’ rights to make informed choices regarding their reproductive health. He urged women to adopt family planning for their own benefit.
Dr. Paul U., Executive Director of the State Primary Health Development Agency, called on local government officials and stakeholders to provide funding to support family planning initiatives.
In a related address, Dr. Jedidiah Sodje, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Benin and Project Director at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, warned of the significant challenges Nigeria faces in maternal and child health. He cited alarming statistics, including Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births and the fact that one in eight children do not reach their fifth birthday.
Sodje advocated for the adoption of family planning to combat these issues, explaining that it empowers women to plan their families and improves overall health outcomes.
World Contraception Day, observed annually on September 26, seeks to raise awareness about contraception and empower young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Launched in 2007, its mission is to create a world where every pregnancy is wanted.
