The Society for Family Health (SFH), a non-governmental organisation, has reported that Kwara State has achieved an 85% uptake of self-injection as a method of family planning.

This method involves the use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Subcutaneous (DMPA-SC), a contraceptive that individuals administer themselves.

SFH noted that the high adoption rate reflects increasing acceptance and awareness of self-care practices in reproductive health across the state.

Women opting to space their children are trained by healthcare professionals to inject the contraceptive at home, enhancing accessibility.

Mallam Umar Adamu, SFH's Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, shared these insights during a Stakeholders Coordination Meeting on Family Planning in Ilorin.

He attributed the widespread use of DMPA-SC to its convenience and ability to offer discreet contraception.

According to him, the self-injectables are administered every three months, while the injection provides contraception by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus.

He noted that SFH has been collaborating with the Kwara government on achieving improved sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes through the Delivering Innovation In Self-care (DISC) 2.0 project.

Adamu explained that the SFH continues to ensure healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, child spacing, and emergency interventions for women at risk in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Kwara State Family Planning Coordinator, Hajia Bashirat Jatao, added that the state government will continue to enhance the quality of sexual and reproductive health services in the state.

She emphasised that reproductive health services would be delivered through best practices across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Jatao added that the state would take ownership and sustainability of the DISC 2.0 project by integrating key activities into the health system.