Unintended pregnancy: Consult gynaecologist for quality family planning-Physician urges couples

A physician, Dr Andrew Ekharogbon, has advised couples to consult a gynaecologist for quality family planning services to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the number of abortions.

Ekharogbon, a Senior Medical Officer, Vicar Hope Foundation, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday.

Ekharogbon, who decried the alarming rate of unplanned pregnancy in the country, also urged couples to have agreement on how to plan their family.

He said that the gynaecologist would counsel the couples on the method suitable for them.

He said, “The problem in Nigeria is that, we go for cheaper things. Most women go to retired nurse or a non-professional who will insert  family planning method for them.

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“Later, it will become a problem and they will begin to face the consequences.

“But if you go to a well established hospital, see a gynaecologist, not just any doctor, he or she will counsel you on the effects of the family planning methods.

“You will also be told to report to the hospital if you notice anything outside such methods.

“But most of the women never report to their doctor or the hospital. So it is a big problem,’’ he said.

The physician called for sensitisation among men and women on family planning, adding that most of them did not even know what it was all about.

“They need to be sensitised because Nigeria is experiencing increased population and cannot even cater for the existing ones.

“A lot of parents cannot provide for their children, so why are you producing more.“

NAN reports that Nigeria recorded 1.3 million unwanted pregnancies and stopped 735,000 unsafe abortions in 2018.

This is according to the statistics released by the International Conference of Family Planning (ICFP) in Kigali, Rwanda. (NAN)