A legislator from Delta State pledges to enhance the budget allocation for family planning
Mrs. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, the representative for the Ika North East constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, has guaranteed the World Health Organization (WHO) and other collaborators that there will be an augmentation of the family planning budget.
Following her recognition as the "Delta Family Planning Ambassador" by the Family Planning team of the State Ministry of Health and its affiliates in Asaba on Monday, Okowa-Daramola issued this commitment.
The legislator has committed to collaborating with partners and associates to eliminate all obstacles that women and girls face concerning family planning in the state.
She expressed, "I stand here today with profound gratitude and a profound sense of duty as I embrace the position of Family Planning Ambassador for Delta State.
"I wish to extend my gratitude to the Ministry of Health, as well as the Family Planning partners and advocates, for bestowing their confidence in me to advocate for this crucial cause.
"Family planning transcends reproductive health; it embodies a fundamental human right."
"It serves as the cornerstone for enabling women and girls to make well-informed decisions concerning their bodies, their futures, and their families."
She emphasized that family planning represented a route to achieving gender equality, economic stability, enhanced healthcare outcomes, and the fundamental basis for a brighter and more prosperous future for Delta.
She also highlighted that World Contraception Day, celebrated annually on September 26, would serve as a global reminder of the critical significance of access to family planning services.
Dr. Christian Tetsola, the Director of Public Health at the Delta Ministry of Health, who confirmed the award bestowed upon Okowa-Daramola, advocated for an augmentation and implementation of the Family Planning (FP) budget. He underlined that her commitment to empowering women and girls contributed to her designation as the FP ambassador.
"We have gathered here as part of the World Contraception Day 2023 commemoration, and today we bestow upon Okowa-Daramola the title of Family Planning Ambassador, which extends to being a Reproductive Health Ambassador," he declared.
"He mentioned, 'She has been a champion for the welfare of the girl child and reproductive issues, with a primary focus on women, although men are also included,'" Tetsola noted.
He explained that the ministry had devised a series of activities to commemorate this year's World Contraception Day, including a public awareness march in the state capital, Asaba, to promote family planning.
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