Youths in Cross River State have been advised to prevent unwanted pregnancies and avoid unhealthy lifestyles in order not to truncate their potentials and future ambitions.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, who gave the admonition, recently, while speaking to students of the Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa in an event to mark the 2023 World Contraception Day, said youths must adapt to acceptable behaviors that will engender healthy living, prevent unwanted pregnancies and acts that are inimical to their educational achievements and other life's dreams.
Dr. Ayuk also averred that the 2023 edition of the event, themed 'The Power of Options,' provides Cross River youths the compelling option to avoid unwanted pregnancies and other untoward behaviours.
Also speaking, the Provost of the State College of Education, represented by Mrs Oscar Ebam the Dean of Students Affairs, appreciated the State Ministry of Health for the choice of College of Education Akamkpa to mark the 2023 World Contraception Day, with the institution the first to host the event outside Calabar.
She admonished the students to properly seek guidance on sexuality and sex education to prevent self-destruct and harm.
The event which was organized by the State Ministry of Health, in partnership with United Nations Population Fund was witnessed by students and staff of the institution.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception. Among the reasons are concerns about side effects and misconceptions about long-term effects on fertility. Some women may be forbidden to use contraception by their husband, partner or in-laws. Some women may feel stigmatized for wanting to use contraception. Some women don’t know about contraception, cannot access it or cannot afford it.
"Until universal access to contraception is achieved, women’s empowerment and gender equality will remain elusive. Such access allows women and girls to choose their future, not chance it," the UNFPA report concluded.
The World Contraception Day, celebrated on September 26, annually, is aimed at improving awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health.
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