A Community and Family Health Specialist Dr. Maryam Abubakar, on Friday harped the dangers of population surge globally.

Abubakar, who is a director with Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency told Periscope Nigeria, shortly after the commemoration of World Population day organised by The Challenge Initiative, that the economic situation required careful planning.

Our correspondent reports that the engagement yielded The Challenge Initiative, the opportunity to inaugurate some champions of child spacing in the state to include; clerics, Coordinator Primary Health Care Development Agency and others.

Abubakar said, “As of this year 2022 by mid November, the population of the world is going to be eight billion that is much compared to some years back around the 80’s. In Gombe we are about 3.2 million population and you know the situation of things in the country the economy is not very friendly.”

She stated that aside economic challenges of not spacing children, the health of the woman would be in jeopardy.

“Talking about child spacing if a couple have ten kids, you know what it means to send them to school feed them including you and your wife you are twelve. Staying in a room apartment won’t be convenient tuberculosis could be passed in such space. Aside from the economic challenges, the health of the woman, as she needs to be healthy to take care of her family.

“Alot of things can be responsible for maternal mortality, it has be direct or indirect causes. The standard of living is very high, eating three square meal may be a challenge, if a woman takes in for instance three months after delivery her body has not healed, she may experience excessive bleeding while giving birth which may lead to death,” Abubakar said.

While lauding the current effort of the State Government, Abubakar urged that more efforts should be made in empowering more women and vulnerable persons.

She added, “The state is doing very well in that regards, alot of programmes are geared towards empowering women. I wish to enjoin the government to do more the population is growing it has to extend it hands to reach the last person in the society.”

Also speaking,  An Islamic cleric Muntaka Tukur, said child spacing has historical basis in the Quran, adding that prophet Mohammed SAW had urged his followers on the need to imbibe it due to it benefits to the family ties and health of the woman.

He said, “In Prophet Mohammed SAW time, there is a Hadith where he was asked about child spacing, the prophet agreed. Religious leaders should preach on it because it has a space in Islam. To parents given the economic situation we have no child spacing will ensure you give your children the best.”

On his part, Pastor Kelvin Okenta, said the commemoration of World Population day meant alot not only to him but to the church, “It is not just about the numbers but the impact that the people have made. As a champion, I hope to talk to more people about the importance of child spacing, because of its huge benefits to the mother, child, the society,” Okenta added.