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Reading a newspaper article on \u2018the governor\u2019s focus on reforms in governance\u2019<\/em> is appropriate as it\u2019s these very reforms that have led to my trip to Ekiti, Nigeria.<\/p>\n I am visiting Ekiti as part of AWDF\u2019s work with the African Women Leaders Network for Reproductive Heath and Family Planning (AWLN). AWDF and the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) are co-coordinators of the AWLN – a collective of 35 African women leaders who are critical change agents working on issues of women\u2019s rights, reproductive health, social justice and development. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF and First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria is also a member of the AWLN.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AWLN as part of its strategy to mobilize greater commitment to addressing maternal health and a range of reproductive health concerns, seeks to partner with leaders who have prioritized these issues at political levels. The AWLN trip to Ekiti is to engage with the government of Ekiti who have shown commitment to prioritizing issues of maternal and reproductive health. Whilst running for office, Dr Fayemi campaigned on an 8-point agenda including \u2018women\u2019s development\u2019, and \u2018health\u2019 as priority issues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9th<\/sup> June 2011. An AWLN team comprising staff from International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) and AWDF as well as Nigerian based Network Members, H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF\/First Lady of Ekiti State; Hon Saudatu Sani, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on MDGs; participated in <\/em>a reproductive health dialogue alongside key stakeholders in Ekiti including the Deputy Governor, H.E. Funmi Olayinka; Dr Wole Olugboji, Commissioner for Health; Ms Peju Babafemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment; Dr D.K. Aina, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Rev. Olu Fatile, Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria \u2013 South West Region. The occasion was also used as an opportunity to launch a \u2018Maternal Health Record Book\u2019 and a \u2018Multiple Birth Trust Fund\u2019.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr D.K. Aina set the tone for the dialogue with his presentation on \u201cPolicy Dimensions: Achievements and Challenges of Maternal Health Services in Ekiti State<\/em>\u201d. \u00a0According to his presentation, some of the current structural, policy and legal provisions for the improvement of maternal health in Ekiti state include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New policy initiatives outlined by Dr Aina included:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n His presentation highlighted maternal health data in Ekiti state with women bearing an average of 5 children, 20% of women delivering in public health facilities, 15% in private facilities and 62% at home. Major challenges indentified in accessing health care include a lack of resources to pay for care, unavailability of drugs and concerns about healthcare providers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Hon Saudatu Sani shared that in her experience as a Member of Parliament from 2003-2011, and Chair of the MDG Committee, a lack of skilled workers in hospital was recognized as the key reason for poor reproductive health services. She challenged states like Ekiti to train more midwives by 2015 and stated, \u201cNigeria is at the driving seat where the MDGs are concerned.\u201d Hon Saudatu Sani shared that a network of African parliamentarians have been mobilizing African governments to commit to the achievement of the MDGs and encouraged H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi to speak to the wives of other Governors on the subject of reproductive health. She further commended Her Excellency on inspiring the creation of a Maternal Health Record Book for the women of Ekiti state which she cited as a practical example of an action to support women\u2019s reproductive health.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes at AWDF invited the Deputy Governor to share how they had succeeded in obtaining the commitment of Ekiti state for women\u2019s reproductive health.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In her response, the Deputy Governor, H.E. Funmi Olayinka stated,<\/p>\n \u201cThe first success story is a First Lady who has \u2018know how\u2019. The second success story is a Governor who respects women and is passionate about women\u2019s rights as well as the committed staff at the Ministry of Health<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF\/First Lady of Ekiti State and AWLN Member shared key lessons from the process of politicizing women\u2019s reproductive health as follows,<\/p>\n \u201cPartnerships are of critical importance. If officials at the Ministry of Health were not supportive, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to create the maternal health record book, which was inspired by the work of the Nana Yaa Memorial Trust in Ghana, an AWDF grantee. This is another example of collaboration<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr Wole Olugboji, Commissioner for Health attributed the success of prioritizing reproductive health to political will. He further stated, \u201cthose who continue the act of FGM will face the full penalty of the law<\/em>\u201d. Dr Olugboji encouraged the people of Ekiti to take family planning seriously. In his words, \u201cEkiti is an agricultural state and farmers know that if you plant crops too closely to one another your output will be poor. The same applies to giving birth to children. A space of 2 years is recommended between child delivery<\/em>.\u201d He also spoke about the benefits of vasectomy as a family planning method and expressed his willingness to lead the men in Ekiti State by example in this regard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi commended the Commissioner for Health on his efforts and urged him to consider the example set by Edo state (a neighbour to Ekiti state), which has passed a \u2018Reproductive Health Bill for Women\u2019.\u00a0 She described the bill as a good model for Ekiti state.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The reproductive health dialogue was extremely well attended with participants ranging from government officials, civil society organizations, health workers and members of the community who took the opportunity to dialogue with Ekiti\u2019s senior politicians and public officials on the way forward for women\u2019s reproductive health in the state.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comments, feedback and questions from the floor included:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe use of the maternal health record books should be entrenched in the curriculum of the training for health centres and nursing schools<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCBOs want to do advocacy on the maternal health books \u2013 we will target local communities, market women, etc<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMore training should be given to traditional birth attendants<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr Ladley, a consultant gynecologist affirmed her support for the further training of traditional birth attendant. She said, \u201c\u2026most people don\u2019t come to hospitals. University students should be trained in the proper use of the pills. Girls are using abortions as preventative family planning<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr Olomojobi, a health researcher made the following input, \u201cThere is no single maternal audit record in the state. Statistics are not available on which mothers have been assisted, who had complications, etc. There is a need for harmonization across the health sector in Ekiti. We need the support of the AWLN at the training and dissemination levels of the maternal health record book<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Funmi Balogun of IPPFAR on behalf of the AWLN made key \u2018asks\u2019 of Ekiti\u2019s public officials and promised that the AWLN would make a return trip to Ekiti to follow up on the following:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n In her closing address, H.E. Funmi Olayinka informed the audience that Ekiti State had on the 8th<\/sup> of June 2011 become the first state in Nigeria to pass a \u201cGender Policy\u201d in line with Nigeria\u2019s national policy and international conventions with the support of H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi\u2019s expertise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She also confirmed that the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi will be reviewing the state\u2019s budget for maternal health and stated, \u201c I reinstate the unreserved commitment of this administration to preserving and ensuring qualitative health care delivery to our citizens, particularly the women and children of Ekiti state<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n By: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah<\/p>\n Programme Officer<\/p>\n African Women\u2019s Development Fund<\/p>\nMeeting Ekiti\u2019s Key Public Officials<\/h2>\n
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Reproductive Health Dialogue<\/h2>\n
Community Responses to Reproductive Health Dialogue<\/h2>\n
Key \u2018asks\u2019 from the AWLN<\/h2>\n
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Closing address by H.E. Funmi Olayinka, Deputy Governor, Ekiti State<\/h2>\n
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