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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Wives of local government chairmen in Benue State have been charged to champion awareness and education on cervical cancer and birth registration at the grassroots level to empower women to make informed decisions about their health and families.
The call was made at an engagement meeting with first ladies of the 23 local government areas of the state, organised by the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in collaboration with an NGO, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), Benue State Association.
The meeting, themed “Empowering First Ladies, Strengthening Maternal and Reproductive Health in Benue State”, provided a platform for education on cervical cancer, its impact on the general population, digital birth registration, as well as national action on women, peace and security.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Mrs Theresa Ikwue, told the first ladies that as models and voices of compassion, their role is at the heart of family life, community development and social transformation, and that their involvement in maternal, neonatal and reproductive health initiatives is essential.
Mrs Ikwue urged the first ladies to engage directly with women at the grassroots, listen to their concerns, help amplify their voices and support community-based outreach, health education and awareness programmes.
She particularly urged the first ladies to advocate for policies and practices that protect the health, dignity and rights of women and children, and to expand access to quality healthcare and family planning to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates across the LGAs.
Speaking on behalf of PPFN, the Clinical Officer, Celine Ingbian, said the group is a national healthcare provider and leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria, founded in 1958 in response to pressing reproductive-related problems such as unwanted pregnancies, child abandonment and unsafe abortion. She said this has informed the decision to work with wives of the local government chairmen in order to address the menace at their various levels.
According to her, PPFN operates in compliance with International Planned Parenthood Federation accreditation standards through the establishment of a democratic and devolved governing structure, focusing on promoting integrated health services that have a direct impact on poor and vulnerable groups, especially women, adolescents and children, as well as key populations and persons living with disabilities.
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Earlier, while presenting an overview of cervical cancer and its impact on the general population, the Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, Aondowase Apinega, attributed the major cause of cervical cancer to long-term untreated HPV 16 and 18 infections, saying about 20 percent of related deaths is preventable through routine immunisation, especially for adolescents aged nine to 14.
Mr Apinega highlighted the risk factors of cervical cancer as early sexual activity, multiple partners, high childbirth, HIV and other immune suppressors like smoking and poor socioeconomic status, and charged the local government first ladies to organise awareness campaigns, support treatment, access and parental care for adolescent girls between nine and fourteen, promote HPV vaccination, as well as establish screening centres where women can be checked regularly and treated if detected at stage one.
Wife of the Kwande LGA chairman and WALGON chairman, Mrs Sandra Neji, on behalf of the first ladies, appreciated the Ministry of Women Affairs and PPFN and pledged the support of the first ladies to any policies that would bring succour to women at the grassroots.
She applauded the commissioner, Mrs Theresa Ikwue, for the decision to involve the local government chairmen, whom she said were in a better position to liaise with women at the grassroots, expressing hope that the target would be met.
Her Vandeikya and Katsina-Ala LGA counterparts, Mrs Phelomena Guda and Mrs Mercy Shaaku, also pledged to prioritise the welfare of women and adolescent girls in their areas.
Director, Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Andor, had earlier called for collective action against issues bordering on women, saying that if not addressed in unison by relevant stakeholders, they would impede societal growth.
The Adult Volunteer Chairperson, PPFN, Mrs Sarah Ingbian, also urged first ladies to join PPFN as volunteers to enable them provide the needed support for women and girls in their vicinity.
