Mrs. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, who serves as the representative for the Ika North East constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, has made a commitment to bolster the family planning budget in collaboration with WHO and various partners.
This assurance came in the wake of her receiving the prestigious “Delta Family Planning Ambassador” award from the State Ministry of Health’s Family Planning team and its affiliated organizations in Asaba on a Monday.
In accepting this ambassadorial role, Mrs. Okowa-Daramola expressed her unwavering dedication to collaborating closely with these partners and associates. Her goal is to eliminate all obstacles hindering women and girls in Delta State from accessing comprehensive family planning services, ensuring their reproductive health and rights are safeguarded and promoted.
She said, “I stand before you today with immense gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility as I accept the role of Family Planning Ambassador for Delta State.
“I want to thank the Ministry of Health and Family Planning partners and advocates, who have placed their trust in me to champion this vital cause.
“Family planning is not just a matter of reproductive health, it is a fundamental human right.
“It is the key to empowering women and girls to make informed choices about their bodies, their futures, and their families.”
She noted that family planning was a pathway to gender equality, economic stability, improved healthcare outcomes, and the cornerstone of a brighter and more prosperous future for Delta.
She noted that World Contraception Day which is celebrated every September 26, would serve as a global reminder of the critical importance of access to family planning services.
The Director of Public Health, Delta Ministry of Health, Dr Christian Tetsola, who confirmed the award on Okowa-Daramola, had solicited an increase and implementation of the FP budget, noting that her role in women and girl child empowerment informed the investiture as the FP ambassador.
“We are here as part of the event to mark the veneration of the World Contraception Day for 2023 and today we confer on Okowa-Daramola, the title of Family Planning ambassador and by extension, reproductive health ambassador.
“She has been an advocate for the girl child and reproductive issue also mainly to do with women, though men are included,” he said.
Tetsola said that the ministry has outlined its programs to mark the year’s World Contraception Day with a road walk to advocate for family planning in the state capital, Asaba.
