From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
A veteran matron in Sokoto State, Hajiya Halima Baba Sarajo, who formerly served with the State Ministry of Health, reflects on her extensive experience, recounting the joys of safe deliveries, the tragedies of maternal deaths, and the challenges faced by women with closely spaced pregnancies.
To Hajiya Sarajo, World Contraception Day serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of family planning in ensuring survival, health, and economic empowerment for families.
“Every mother deserves to give birth safely, and every child deserves to arrive in a home that is ready to nurture them,” she said, her voice calm yet firm.
“Contraception is not about stopping childbirth; it is about spacing pregnancies, preserving the mother’s health, and ensuring children thrive.”
Nigeria continues to face one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. In Sokoto State, health workers like Halima often encounter cases where women lose their lives due to complications from too many pregnancies in too short a time.
“We see women coming to the hospital weak and malnourished because they hardly recover from one birth before getting pregnant again. This is dangerous for both mother and child,” she explained.
She said that beyond the health risks, there are economic burdens. Families with many children born in quick succession often struggle to provide adequate food, education, and healthcare.
“When pregnancies are properly spaced, parents have the chance to plan better, save money, and invest in their children’s future. Family planning is therefore not only a health issue, but also an economic one,” she added.
The senior matron recalled the story of Amina, a mother of six, who nearly lost her life during her last childbirth. After counseling, Amina and her husband embraced contraceptives.
“Today, she is healthier, and her family is more stable. She even started a small business because she had the strength and time to work,” Sarajo recounted.
According to experts, effective family planning could prevent up to 30% of maternal deaths and significantly reduce infant mortality. It also allows women the freedom to pursue education and income-generating activities, breaking cycles of poverty.
World Contraception Day, marked globally on September 26, calls for increased awareness and access to family planning services.
In Sokoto, health officials stress that overcoming cultural myths and misinformation remains the biggest challenge.
“Some still believe family planning is against religion or that it makes women infertile, which is not true,” Halima said.
“We need community leaders, religious leaders, and husbands to support women in making the right health decisions.”
As Nigeria battles economic hardship, Halima insists that contraception provides a pathway to family resilience.
“When families can feed, clothe, and educate their children, society becomes stronger. It all begins with planning and making informed choices,” she said.
For her, every child born healthy and every mother who survives childbirth is a victory worth celebrating. And on this World Contraception Day, she urges families in Sokoto and beyond to see family planning not as a taboo, but as a gift that saves lives and builds a future.