Abuja: The National Assembly has emphasized the significance of informed choice and quality counselling in family planning services, highlighting that mere access is insufficient for effective reproductive healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, emphasized this at a two-day training on Counselling Models for Family Planning, organized in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ogunlana, represented by Deputy Clerk Mr. Bashir Yero, stated that individuals and couples need accurate information to make voluntary, informed decisions regarding their reproductive health. He stressed that effective family planning services require not only access to appropriate interventions but also quality information, communication, and counselling.
Ogunlana noted that the manner in which information is communicated can influence whether clients understand available options, feel respected, and maintain confidence in their decisions. He emphasized that health professionals need more than technical knowledge and must listen, communicate without judgment, address concerns, and respond appropriately during counselling.
He further stated that the program’s success would be measured not just by the knowledge gained during the two days but by how effectively that knowledge is translated into improved counselling and communication. Ogunlana expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the National Assembly’s health structures and SFH, showcasing the value of partnerships in enhancing health promotion, capacity building, and service delivery.
Mrs. Roselyne Odeh of SFH’s RMNCAEH Programme Delivery Unit highlighted that the training is part of broader efforts to establish a sustained partnership with the National Assembly. Odeh mentioned that SFH aims to position itself as a technical organization supporting the National Assembly, with discussions already underway to advance this collaboration.
She explained that the training followed a request from the department’s leadership to expose personnel to innovative approaches, considering their role as an interface between clients and National Assembly leadership. The expected outcome includes developing a cohort of trainers who will continue capacity building and disseminate acquired knowledge within the National Assembly and wider communities.
Participants from different parts of Abuja and other locations are expected to extend the training to support communities where SFH might not be able to directly provide similar capacity-building interventions. Odeh noted that the broader objective is to impact Nigeria’s health system through partnerships, affecting people across all age groups.
The training involves 40 participants, with the expectation that they will transfer the knowledge to others, thereby expanding the reach and potential impact of the intervention. Mr. Muntaka Tutare, Chief Public Health Officer with the National Assembly Department of Public Health, Planning and Research, expressed his hopes for the training to enhance his understanding and ability to provide information aiding individuals and families in making informed decisions about family size.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training aims to strengthen the participants’ technical knowledge and capacity for engagement on broader reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent, and elderly health priorities.