Expert highlights side effects of Postinor abuse as contraceptive

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

State Family Planning Coordinator, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Hajia Bilikis Ibrahim has identified some side effects of abnormal usage of Postinor as replacement for method of family planning.

She said Postinor was supposed to be used on emergency should Incase unplanned sexual intercourse came up.

Ibrahim made this disclosure on Wednesday at day 1 of a 3 day training of media personnel, social media influencers and MDA officials on media advocacy for family planning held in Ilorin.

The coordinator said the emergency pills for unplanned sexual intercourse should be ideally used twice a month as each usage works for two weeks.

Ibrahim explained that abnormal usage of the said pill could lead to disruption of menstrual circle, prolonged bleeding and spotting among others.

Earlier, the state Reproductive Health Coordinator Dr. Kafayat Kofo said abstinence and condoms usage served dual purposes of preventing Un intended pregnancy and contraction of sexually transmitted infections.

She urged family planning subscribers to approach a government facility and seek counsel from skilled health workers.

Kofo said out of 100,000 pregnant women, Nigeria records 512,000 maternal mortality and the Sustainable Development Goals,(SDGs) goal 3 targets the maternal mortality rate to be at least 70 by the year 2030.

In his welcome address, the DevComs, Media Engagement Trainer,Mayowa Adeniran disclosed that the media training became important due to the role media played in awareness creation for increase access to family planning.

Adeniran added that the training would equip the media personnel on appropriate therminologies knowledge of family planning and effective reportage of maternal and child health issues.