By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The need for government especially at the subnational, to make specific funds allocation to mitigate the negative impacts of sexual representative health (SRH), post abortion care (PAC) and mental health issues has been stressed.
The call was made during a one-day meeting with Stakeholders /Journalists on Advancing Policies on SRH/ Post Abortion Care including mental Health services through Innovative Advocacy organized by the Bauchi State Ministry of Health (BSMOH) in collaboration with Academy for Health Development (AHEAD) – Guttmacher Institute at the
SMOH Conference hall, Bauchi
The participants also recommended for significant increase in investment through advocacy for more funding by both government and donors as well as increased awareness creation and community mobilization through male engagement.
They also recommended that there should be provided, capacity building to relevant stakeholder especially media professionals on reporting issues of SRH, PAC and mental health.
Also, there should be a strengthened legal framework in the state on SRH, PAC, mental Health and GBV as well as provision and scale up of training and retraining of healthcare workers on Mental Health, PAC, SRH and other relevant services.
Earlier in her presentation, Zuwaira Baba, Fellow, AHEAD – Guttmacher Institute, pointed out that Sexual and Reproductive health services include access to information and services on prevention, diagnosis, counselling, treatment and care which require that all people can safely reach services without difficulties. ( Chaltu, 2022).
She also stated that good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. (UNFPA, 2022).
Speaking further, Zuwaira Baba who is the Gender Desk Officer of MoH, explained that maternal health services includes contraception, prevention of unsafe abortion, SRHR &HIV linkages, Gender equity/ equality and rights
Furthermore, She explained that Post Abortion Care (PAC), including mental health support, is critical but often overlooked as an reproductive health services (W.H.O PAC Guidelines, 2022).
According to Zuwaira baba, limited access to quality PAC services for the majority of women in Nigeria owing mostly to health system weakness, lack of training and inadequate PAC equipment and supplies (African Population & Health Research center, 2021) is an issue that must be tackled head on.
The lamented that fewer Primary Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria, Kenya and Burkina Faso had the capacity to deliver on all basic component of Basic PAC (Juma, Ouedraogo, Amo-adeji, Sie, Eton & Bangha, 2022) just as Co-morbidities as a result of SRH/abortion complication includes depression, stigma, isolation etc.
On Post Abortion Care (PAC), She stated that bortion either spontaneous or induced, may be associated with complications that constitute global public health challenges especially in developing countries.
She added that abortion is one of the most important direct medical causes of maternal mortality, accounting for 12-49% of overall maternal deaths despite that Nigerian laws indicated that abortion is an criminal offence unless with medical implications. (Penal & criminal laws)
On Sexual Reproductive Health and Mental Health, She stated that they are both important aspect of overall well- being, and they are closely linked stressing that changes in SRH can impact mental health, and mental health challenges can increase SRH vulnerabilities.
According to WHO, one in every Eight persons around the world are living with mental health condition.
Mental Health Burden is also affecting an increasing number of adolescent and young persons, Including persons with disabilities while changing hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, delivery and or abortion can cause mental health conditions (Women Health Journal, 2021)
Also, 20% of the population of Nigeria suffers from some form of mental disorder including stress, anxiety, depression, isolation and schizophrenia, which can lead to risky sexual and anti-social behavior, sexual violence, substance abuse etc.
Zuwaira Baba added that Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 years old and people with mental health conditions die prematurely as much as two decades early due to preventable physical conditions.
In order to achieve set objectives on SRH/PAC, Mental Health and Media, there must be accurate and authentication of data, information, effective communication, unambiguous
Channel of Communication, removal of Barriers to communication and Communicating Public health Concerns especially SRH/PAC and Mental Health.
Some of the challenges are minimal investment by government and donors, limited awareness creation/community mobilization on SRH especially PAC and MH, low knowledge on how to report, minimal effective legal services and limited expert particularly on Mental Health.
