129,000 Married Teenage Girls in Nasarawa Adopt Contraceptives — SFH
The Society for Family Health (SFH), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has announced that no fewer than 129,285 married adolescent girls in Nasarawa State have adopted the use of contraceptives through its Adolescents 360 (A360) Project.
The project, which is aimed at improving the sexual and reproductive health of young girls, has been particularly focused on those between the ages of 15 and 19 years under its local initiative known as “Matasan Matan Arewa.”
Speaking during a two-day residential transition policy dialogue meeting in Keffi Local Government Area, SFH’s Health Governance and Public Policy Specialist, Kenneth Okoineme, praised the progress made through the A360 Project.
He stated that over the past four years, the initiative has transformed the adolescent sexual and reproductive health landscape in Nasarawa State by reaching more than 280,000 adolescent girls with youth-friendly services.
Of this number, 129,285 are new contraceptive adopters, and an additional 68,770 are continuing users, figures that are especially significant in a region with traditionally high rates of discontinuation.
Okoineme highlighted that a major focus of the project has been sustainability. The A360 Project has been integrated into the state’s health system to ensure its continuity beyond the lifespan of donor support. This deliberate approach aims to strengthen existing healthcare structures so that the impact of the project remains long-lasting.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Community and Family Health at the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Absalom Madawa, noted that one of the key objectives of the project was to improve the state’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR).
According to him, recent data shows that Nasarawa has achieved a CPR of 22.3 percent, a significant increase from the 14.2 percent recorded in 2018.
Madawa emphasized that while the primary focus of the A360 Project is married adolescent girls, its benefits have extended to a wider demographic of women aged 15 to 49 years due to the nature of the services provided.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress made, noting that while some states regressed in contraceptive uptake, Nasarawa has made notable strides forward despite facing challenges.
In a show of legislative support, Chief Whip and Chairman of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s Committee on Health, Lanry Ven-Bawa, commended the impact of the project and pledged to work towards enacting laws that would ensure its sustainability in the state.
The dialogue, themed “The Future of Adolescent and Youths Sexual Reproductive Health and Development in Nasarawa,” was organised by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Society for Family Health.
It marked a key moment in the state’s commitment to safeguarding and advancing the health rights of its adolescent population.
