The Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), Dr Okai Haruna Aku, says the organisation is committed to supporting interventions in reproductive health and gender-based violence (GBV), including efforts to end all forms of digital abuse.
During an interview with the Voice of Nigeria, Dr Aku explained that the organisation, which was legally registered in 1964, initially focused on family planning information and services.
He said; “the PPFN is a foremost reproductive health organisation in this country, it started first of all as a family planning organisation and that started right around 1958 because of dumping of babies, safe abortion, maternity death and all that. We are known for family planning information and services”
Aku explained that the organisation’s mandate expanded following the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo.
“Until the paradigm change of 1994 which was the Cairo conference, then everything spread to reproductive health.
“So everything has to do with the reproductive health of both man and woman from cradle to death,” he said.
He noted that PPFN’s work covers maternal, child and adolescent health, as well as nutrition.
“So we combine the childhood as well up to even nutrition because nutrition is also very important,” he stressed.
Speaking on its national presence, he said PPFN has grown from its early base in Lagos to nationwide coverage.
Aku said PPFN is structured along Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with regional headquarters in cities including Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Kaduna and Bauchi.
“This particular organisation has grown from that particular office in Lagos to have spread all over the country,” he said.
Aku also confirmed PPFN’s affiliation with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which provides funding for its services.
“We are an accredited member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, which is headquartered in London, and the main funding for PPFN is from IPPF, centrally in London.” he disclosed.
“We were concerned about our client and patient, how they get refilled, how they get information about family planning or reproductive health. We eventually developed an app, which we eventually let our people know through a telephone call, download it,” he said.
According to him, as the pandemic period was marked by an increase in childbirths, the app enabled users to access information through chatbots and referrals to qualified service providers.
On gender-based violence, Aku said the issue remains a core concern for PPFN.
He outlined the organisation’s response mechanisms, which include counselling, collaboration with law enforcement agencies and partnerships with other civil society organisations.
“We have also collaborated with the police on the issue of gender based violence. We have also collaborated with other CSOs or other implementers of programmes on gender based violence. We have room to listen to complaints concerning emotional violence as well.” he said.
Aku stressed that violence goes beyond physical abuse.
He said; “It is not only when you have a physical fight, but that is also violence, the emotional issues are there.”
Aku also raised concerns about the continued practice of female genital mutilation despite existing laws prohibiting it.
“A typical example is like female genital mutilation, which is one of the first laws in the VAPP act, I am telling you up to today that some people are not aware that it is prohibited.” he said.
Speaking on ending digital violence against women and girls, Aku warned about the risks associated with digital abuse, noting that young girls are particularly vulnerable to digital crimes.
“There are disadvantages to this digital world where you find out that there are abuses, there are impersonations so for PPFN, we will continue to strengthen our advanced advocacy on the side effects of cyber crime and this digital criminality to avoid women or our girls being lured into rape, killing and all that,” he stated.