Teachers of Health Education across the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State have been encouraged to take advantage of available platforms to educate the public about health and well-being. This call was made by the State Health Educator, Mrs. Uju Onwuegbuzina, during an engagement meeting with Health Education Teachers ahead of the forthcoming Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign.
Mrs. Onwuegbuzina urged teachers to use platforms such as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings to educate parents about the benefits of antenatal care and family planning services offered in health facilities. She stressed that such education would empower women to lead more organized and healthier lives.
Assistant Family Planning Focal Person for the State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Stella Opia, highlighted the importance of family planning, explaining that it supports child spacing and ensures that pregnancies are by choice, not by chance. She noted that family planning contributes to both the physical and mental well-being of parents, allowing them to better prepare for each child.
“Family planning gives women time to rest physically after the journey of pregnancy, while also helping in their careers and productivity, both at home and at work,” Mrs. Opia explained, adding that its benefits extend to the wider society.
Mrs. Opia further urged teachers to use the upcoming measles vaccination campaign as an opportunity to sensitize mothers on the advantages of family planning, emphasizing that it does not prevent them from having more children if desired.
