By Rose Oranye/Chigozie Chukwuleta
Advocacy on Reproductive Health Initiative (ARHI), an advocacy group on family planning, on Friday, held her second quarterly meeting for Year 2024, at the Ministry of Health Hall, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, Anambra State.
Addressing the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Obiageli Uchebo, observed that family planning is very important in Anambra State, especially now that the state government is offering free antenatal and free delivery to pregnant women.
She stressed the need to capture women for family planning at the point of delivery.
The Perm Sec, who thanked the chairman and members of the advocacy group for their persistence, enjoined them to work towards doing a very good job to convince more Ndị Anambra to access family planning services.
While tasking the group to find out the utilization of family planning services, she assured that the Ministry will always support them to achieve their desired goals.
The State Director, Public Health, Dr Anaeme expressed happiness that the group is recognized, adding that it will help the ministry to fulfill her drive on family planning.
Earlier in his opening speech, the chairman of the advocacy group, Mr. Emmanuel Okekearu explained that the group is currently working towards improving the data on family planning services in the state.
He appreciated The Challenge Initiative (TCI) for accepting to sponsor the meetings and some parts of the group’s work plan, even as he said that the group needs support of the ministry and state government to achieve the desired goals.