The Federal Government has said that investing in family planning can significantly reduce maternal mortality by 30 per cent.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, said this during the National Symposium to commemorate 2024 World Population Day (WPD) in Abuja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s symposium has “Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All” as its theme, organised by the Population Association of Nigeria (PAN).
The symposium was co-organised by various CSOs, supported by Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC), aimed at improving family planning services and healthcare access across the country.
Anas-Kolo emphasised the critical role that access to family planning services plays in improving maternal health outcomes.
She said “family planning is more than a health service, it is a critical component of maternal and child health.
“By allowing women to space and plan their pregnancies, family planning reduces the risk of complications that can arise from closely-spaced pregnancies.”
She noted that the maternal mortality ratio, which measures the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, remains a significant concern in many parts of the world, particularly developing countries.
She added that “according to recent studies, providing comprehensive family planning services can prevent up to 30 per cent of maternal deaths.
“This is because planned pregnancies allow women to seek timely prenatal care and ensure they are in optimal health before conceiving.”
She highlighted family planning as key investment for demographic dividends, empowering individuals to make informed reproductive choices and enhancing health and economic outcomes.
In a joint lead presentation on “Contraceptive Accessibility and Costs Amidst the Cost-of-Living Crisis,” Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, announced the availability of three million dollars for family planning in the country.
Oji said that since 2012, family planning has been free, with an additional 8.3 million dollars allocated for commodities.
He explained that investing in family planning services is one of the most effective strategies to reduce maternal mortality.
He added that “when women have access to contraceptives and can plan their pregnancies, they are less likely to experience complications that may lead to maternal death.”
Meanwhile, Dr Stanley Ukpai, the Director of Projects at dRPC, said that in spite of the benefits, there are many barriers to accessing family planning services.
“The barriers include cultural stigma, lack of education and insufficient healthcare infrastructure.
“Addressing these challenges require multifaceted approach involving government policies, community education and international support,” he said,
He, therefore, urged state governments to prioritise family planning services in the global effort to reduce maternal mortality.
During the presentation, Mr Alexander Chiejina, the Strategic Content Lead at Nigeria Health Watch, highlighted the importance of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
Chiejina urged governments at sub-national levels, CSOs and stakeholders to advocate for increased family planning funding, leverage technology for last-mile distribution and raise awareness at the community level.
Prof. Enang Ebingha Erena, the President of the Population Association of Nigeria, said though family planning awareness is high, acceptability remains low.
He called for improved education, innovation, and less reliance on donor funds.
Representing the Director and Head of Family Health Department, FMoH, Dr Oluseyi Omokore, said that in spite of increasing family planning interventions, results not proportional.
Omokore stressed the need for more effective strategies for the country’s 40 million women of reproductive age.
NAN recalls that World Population Day was established by the United Nations in 1989 to focus on global population issues.
It is annually commemorated on July 11 across the globe to also raise awareness about demographic trends, growth projections and their impact on sustainable development.(NAN)
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