SOCIETY FOR FAMILY HEALTH (SFH) DISSEMINATION OF DELIVERY INNOVATION IN SELF-CARE (DISC) PROJECT PERFORMANCE AND LEARNINGS

The Society for Family Health, Nigeria disseminated it's findings and achievements from its intervention in Delivery Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) Project to the health sector of Ondo State.

The DISC project was implemented in 5 LGAs of the 18 Local Government Areas of the State namely Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Akure South, Owo, Ondo West and Akure North

The project commenced in Ondo State September 2022 and terminated in May 2024. It was able to reach about 44,672 women across these 5 LGAs regarding Family Planning methods including DMPA-SC self injection with referral of 28,708 out of these and an eventual uptake of DMPA-SC self injection by 12,851 women across the 18 LGAs of the State in general.

The programme has directly supported over 30 facilities coupled with training of 20 Community mobilizers to sensitize and refer women to these facilities, directly trained over 45 Providers and achieved cascade/step down training to over 600 providers across the State. Additionally, it has built the capacity of the M&E Officers and Family Planning Coordinators across the 18 LGAs on Family Planning Data reporting to improve the Family Planning Data of the State.

Speaking on their activities in the State, the State Family Planning Coordinator in Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs Opeyemi Agunbiade noted in her presentation that there has been about 60% growth in self injection rate in Ondo State while reiterating that over 60 of every 100 women who opt for DMPA-SC as their method of choice are self-injecting successfully under the supervision of the health providers at the health facility and subsequently at home after proper training and observation with the aid of Job Aids to ensure competency at the facility before take home doses are dispensed to the clients.

Agunbiade explained further that DMPA-SC uptake grew by 60% from 750 visits in July 2022 to 1,310 visits in January 2024 and self Injection rate also grew from 8 percent to over 60 percent in Quarter 4 2023.

Speaking on their challenges, Agunbiade mentioned staff attrition and inadequate Family Planing commodities in the State while also urging the State to take ownership of the project for the benefit of the people of the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola appreciated the Society For Family Health for their contribution to the health indices of the State.

The Permanent Secretary noted the DISC project has expanded access to contraception and has empowered women and families to make informed choices about their reproductive health, thereby fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.
He assured that the State would step in to continue to provide Family Planning commodities in the State as part of their recommendations in the subsequent budget.

The Social and Behavioral Change Coordinator for Society for Family Health, Mr Titus Micheal said Delivery Innovation in Selfcare (DISC) is a five year Sexual and Reproductive Health programme implemented by Population Service International and the Society for Family Health, Nigeria.
"The project supports women to assume greater power and have control over their sexual and reproductive health through the use of contraceptives self care methods like DMPA-SC Self-Inject."
He appreciated the State for providing the enabling environment for the project to deliver appropriately.

Some of the beneficiaries of the DMPA-SC who were present at the event opined that the family planning injection is easy to use and it does not have any side effects since they have been using it and they pleaded with the Government to look into making it available for the women folks in Ondo State.