By CHARLES IWUOHA

The National Population Commission (NPC) has expressed fear that many girls may drop out of school after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The commission added that there would be early marriages, high fertility, morbidity and maternal mortality, abortions, VVF, as well as low self esteem at attending to personal healthcare after the pandemic.

The Ebonyi State director of the commission, Edward Ogbu, stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital, during a press briefing to mark this year’s World Population Day with a theme “Putting the Brakes on COVID-19: How to safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now”.

He noted that the absence of school session, many girls were likely to drop out of school and engage in early marriage, which would lead to high fertility and morbidity in the country.

Ogbu, who represented Federal Commissioner, of the NPC in the state, Hon. Darlington Okereke, explained that COVID-19 has increased Gender Base Violence on girls and women in the society.

“In the absence of schooling, more girls are likely to drop out of school and other consequences could include early marriage and high fertility, morbidity and maternalmortality, abortion, VVF, low self esteem at attending to personal healthcare.

“Another effective of COVID-19 on women and girls is the noticeable increase in gender based violence ranging from rape, physical and emotional assault, some of which has resulted in the loss of lives.

“Recent reportage revealed that GBV transcended age, economic, educational, ethic classification of victims and more often women and girls are the victims.

“The likely effect of COVID-19 pandemic is on the delivery of contraceptives is better imagined. Already Nigeria is experiencing low contraceptive prevalence rate and unmet needs. The contraceptive prevalence rate CPR for modern methods is 12% for married women, while sexually active unmarried women, only 28% are using s modern method.

“The unmet needs for family planning are as high as 20% in some parts of the country. The implication of limited access to commodities and services include higher level of STIs due to unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies unsafe abortions, maternal mortality and unwanted pregnancies.”