Imam Musa Tanimu: Childbirth Spacing Champion in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Kaduna State, Nigeria

When NURHI [Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative] came, there were a lot of misconceptions about family planning. The only way to penetrate the community was through traditional or religious leaders because here in the north, the people consider statements of religious leaders pivotal on some issues. So, we formed a very strong interfaith partnership, so that we can disseminate and inform the people about family planning. Initially, the challenges we faced were from our scholars and religious leaders because some media interpret family planning in Hausa as “Tak ke te ya le,’’ which means to ‘cut down the size of the family’. We found it very difficult to clear that misinterpretation. When we went to the World Health Organization, it had a different definition from what the Hausas were calling it: a personal arrangement between husband and wife, especially for the health of the mother and the child. We consider the mother to be the teacher of her child and when she is not well, then something may be lacking. So we were able to convince some scholars, especially Muslim scholars, that family planning is acceptable from the religious angle.

That’s why we decided here in Kaduna state to change the name from family planning to childbirth spacing, because it is something we consider as being acceptable in religion. Therefore, it is our responsibility as the InterFaith Forum to ensure that we are able to clear the misconception.

Interviewer: Oris Ikiddeh

Photographer: Melanie Nwakwo