A non-profit organization, Pathfinder International, has said that despite the global campaign for the acceptance of female condom, its use among Nigerian women is extremely low.
It, therefore, proposed the establishment of safe spaces, where issues concerning female condoms would be freely discussed to raise more awareness among young women.
Naija News reports that this lamentation came from Pathfinder International’s Country Director (Nigeria), Dr. Amina Dorayi, during a novelty football match organised for young women by the organisation in Abuja on Thursday to create a safe space to discuss issues of sexual and reproductive health.
According to her, Nigerians are yet to fully accept the female condom as a means of contraception. Hence, the need for more young people to be taught its benefits so as to give them increased control over their fertility choices.
She said, “People don’t really know that there is the female condom, and the major reasons are poor awareness campaigns, ignorance and unavailability of the commodity in health centers and pharmacy shops.
“But sex is real. It happens around us every minute. So, we have to face this truth and help young people who don’t want to get pregnant, contract sexual transmitted diseases, or lose their means of livelihood.
“The more we don’t talk about it to young people, the more they will make mistakes. So, it’s our duty to empower them, especially the females on how to take care of the sexual and reproductive health so that they don’t harm themselves.”
While insisting that strong grassroots intervention, interpersonal communication and elimination of inhibiting cultural and social beliefs were keys to promoting increased use of condom by Nigerian women, Dorayi called for the inclusion of traditional, religious and opinion leaders as advocates of female condoms in their domains.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News