FG: Family Planning Critical to Addressing Poverty, Insecurity in Nigeria

•Integration into BHCS needed, says Kalu

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has said that family planning campaign will complement current efforts at addressing rising poverty and some of the root causes of insecurity and social upheaval across the country.

It said the present administration acknowledges the importance of family planning in the evolution of modern society.

Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim, who spoke at the formal opening of the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference in Abuja on Thursday, said that family planning is a critical aspect of the country ‘s development agenda, closely linked to economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved health outcomes.

She said: “In Nigeria, we face significant challenges, including security concerns, climate change, and poverty. Family planning is critical to addressing these challenges, as it enables individuals and families to make informed choices about their reproductive health.

“As a nation, we have made progress in promoting family planning, but we still have a long way to go. Our statistics show that we have a high total fertility rate, which poses significant challenges to our economic and social development”.

Mrs. Ibrahim said that in order to address these challenges, there is need to work together, “to create a future where every woman and girl in Nigeria has access to family planning services”.

“We must also ensure that our conversations are inclusive and take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders.

“Faith-based organizations, community leaders, and traditional rulers have a critical role to play in promoting family planning.  “We need to engage with them and ensure that they are equipped with the necessary information and resources to promote family planning in their communities.”

According to Ibrahim, one of the key challenges facing the family planning is the lack of access to family planning services, particularly in rural areas

While advocating a homegrown solution to family planning challenges, Ibrahim said the need to develop strategies that are tailored to our unique context and needs cannot be over-emphasized.

“We need to work with community leaders, faith-based organizations, and traditional rulers to promote family planning and ensure that everyone has access to accurate information.

“We also need to address the issue of cultural and religious barriers to family planning. We also need to address the issue of funding for family planning programs. We need to work with our development partners to secure funding for our family planning programs,” she said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said that family planning is a key driver of national development and should not be ignored.

He said that current administration has stepped up funding for family planning programmes including money for purchase of commodities.

Kalu said that leaders in South East states will like to partner drivers of the family planning programme as part of the ongoing Initiative to address insecurity in the zone.

While declaring the conference open, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, said that modern contraceptive prevalence rate in Nigeria has risen from 4%l percent to 15 percent

Pate who represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom said that government is totally committed to achieving the goals of family planning.

She said that federal government remained committed to achieving 2030 contraceptives prevalence target.

“The federal government remains committed to achieving a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 27 percent by 2030. This goal aligns with our health sector reforms to ensure that Nigerians of reproductive age have access to comprehensive, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services.

“Family planning is critical to managing population growth and addressing maternal and infant morbidity. We have made significant progress, with fertility rates declining from six children per woman in 1990 to 4.8 today. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate has risen from 4 percent to 15 percent,” she said.

The minister regretted that the unmet need for family planning remained high at 20 percent, even as regional disparities exist.

To accelerate progress, Pate said that government must prioritize domestic funding for family planning, strengthen the supply chain, and integrate family planning into essential services.

“We must also empower young people, who make up over half of Nigeria’s population, with youth-friendly family planning services,” he said.

This year’s family planning conference was jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) with sponsorships from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation UNFPA, FP230, Children Investment Fund Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.

Chairman of the organising committee for the 8th Family Planning conference, Dr. Ejike Orji said the group has identified challenges facing the campaign to include; low contraceptive prevalence rates, high unmet needs, funding gaps, sociocultural barriers, and poor youth access to family planning programmes.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy Mission Director at USAID, Jansen Taylor, assured that the United States Government will continue to support family planning programmes in Nigeria

Also representative of the Country Director of Bill & Milinda Gates Foundation, Rodio Diallo said the organisation continue to provide funding and technical assistance to drive the family planning Initiative in Nigeria.