Emir of Dass says Islam not against family planning, immunisation

The Emir of Dass, Bauchi State, Usman Bilyaminu Othman, has said Islam is not against family planning and immunisation, silencing criticism about both concepts being anti-tradition. Othman has also pledged the support of traditional and religious institution in Bauchi to push for the realisation of government commitments to child and family health. Othman made the […]

The Emir of Dass, Bauchi State, Usman Bilyaminu Othman, has said Islam is not against family planning and immunisation, silencing criticism about both concepts being anti-tradition.

Othman has also pledged the support of traditional and religious institution in Bauchi to push for the realisation of government commitments to child and family health.

Othman made the comments during a dialogue session on child and family health organised by the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) under the aegis of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) in Bauchi state.

“The traditional, religious and community leaders will intensify advocacy to ensure sustainable routine immunization, management of childhood killer diseases, apart from encouraging the communities to embrace appropriate nutrition status,” the emir said in a statement from the dialogue.

Othman, who has entered the public eye for adopting newborns abandoned in the emirate of Dass, noted, “Also, Islam is not against family planning and immunization. I therefore encourage parents to immunize their children to build a healthy society.”

FOMWAN’s Abdullahi Ibrahim gross inadequacy in budget provisions for family planning despite immense progress in supportive policies and free contraceptives in public health facilities.

He noted the inadequacy denied couples the option of anticipating and attaining their desired number of children.

PACFaH has also solicited help from traditional and religious leaders to advocate for the National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) at every level, with emphasis on maternal and child nutrition by government in the state.

The partnership also wants “strategic advocacy” to increase domestic funding for routine immunisation, ensure timely release of funds for vaccines, promote access to needed health care, and establishing an intervention fund to draw contribution from private and public sectors.