A former minister of health, Isaac Adewole, has said effective Family Planning (FP) services contribute to national development by curbing population growth and alleviating resource pressure.
Adewole, while disclosing this in his speech at the ongoing eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference 2024 in Abuja, further explained that effective FP services can alleviate pressure on resources such as education, healthcare, and employment.
The three-day conference themed, “Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria health sector renewal investment initiative, advancing progress towards achieving FP2030 goals,” is organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Mr Adewole, who is the chairman of the conference, said the role of FP as a cornerstone of the country’s health system and a key driver of national development cannot be overemphasised.
Adewole said Nigeria faces significant challenges related to reproductive health, including high maternal and infant mortality rates, unplanned pregnancies, and limited access to contraceptive methods.
He said over 19 per cent of married women in Nigeria have an unmet need for contraceptives, leading to increased health risks.
He noted that effective FP services can reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve quality of life and economic empowerment, particularly for women.
The former health minister said by prioritising FP, Nigeria can enhance its health system and empower individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
He, therefore, said, to accelerate progress towards achieving FP2030, the government should prioritise domestic funding, strengthen the supply chain, and integrate FP into essential services.
“The government must also empower young people, who make up over half of Nigeria’s population, with youth-friendly FP services.
“We need to provide adolescents and young adults with accurate information and accessible resources to make informed reproductive choices.”
“The cultural and religious barriers that prevent many Nigerians from accessing FP services must be addressed for the country to make progress toward the FP target.”
He also highlighted the need to engage with community leaders, faith-based organisations and traditional rulers to promote accurate information and build trust.
“We also need to strengthen our partnerships with development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to leverage resources, expertise, and innovation to accelerate progress,” he said.
“Furthermore, we need to ensure that our FP programmes are evidence-based, data-driven, and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised populations.”
He urges every stakeholder to seize this moment to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on our shared commitments.
“Together, we can transform Family Planning into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda.”
Also speaking during a panel session, the Deputy Director of Family Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Rodeo Diallo, highlighted the critical role of FP commodities in sustaining programs.
Diallo stressed the urgency of addressing supply chain inefficiencies to ensure availability at the last mile.
“Without commodities, there is no programme and without a programme, there is no impact to expect. And women will continue to die from unsafe abortion because they will have sex and may not want to keep the baby,” she said.
