The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to funding family planning commodities, emphasizing this initiative as a crucial step in managing the nation’s growing population.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health, Dr Salma Anas, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at a symposium organized by the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with the Population Association of Nigeria to commemorate the 2024 World Population Day.
The event was themed: “Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All,” focusing on the necessity of family planning in addressing demographic challenges and opportunities in Nigeria.
Dr Anas said family planning is one of the most effective methods of addressing the incessant population growth and simultaneously for maternal mortality.
She stated that to further enhance family planning services, the government is working to pay the 2023 and 2024 counterpart contributions for the supply of family planning commodities.
She emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is dedicated to prioritizing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition, ensuring that no woman or child is left behind.
“In line with this commitment, the government has paid the 2022 counterpart contribution for the supply of FP commodities and efforts are underway to pay the 2023, and 2024 contributions,” she said.
“However, what we are committing to going forward, is to institute a more sustainable mechanism for the timely release of government counterpart funding for FP services.”
She said part of this mechanism will also consider how states can be encouraged to commit to investing in FP commodities procurement, thereby engendering greater ownership at the sub-national levels for greater sustainability.
High mortality
Speaking at the event, President, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Nigeria, Okechukwu Ikpeze, said uncontrolled childbirth contributes significantly to the high maternal mortality rate in the country.
Dr Ikpeze said family planning not only helps with population control but also drastically reduces the cases of maternal mortality.
He noted that there’s a need to reorientate the citizens on birth control and push for behavioural change and increased advocacy among citizens.
“Family planning is important. In the past, a lot of children died because women wanted a certain number just so if some died, they would still have some number of children there,” he said.
“But we are moved past that now. Also, the resources to care for the children are not there.”
He noted that there are some countries with limitations on the number of offspring allowed and they are doing better than Nigeria.
In his contribution, Ejike Oji, chairman of the management committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) and focal person for Nigeria Health Watch, presented findings from a recent market survey by dRPC on contraceptive accessibility.
The report revealed a significant financial barrier, with the cost of consumables hindering access to contraceptives and other family planning supplies.
“We saw behavioural trade-offs and availability and accessibility,” Mr Oji said, citing findings from the research.
Mr Oji said providers lamented how a lot of people have very little knowledge of family planning and the use of contraceptives.
Award ceremony
At the event, 13 journalists were awarded for their entries in the primary healthcare accountability reporting media challenge organized by the Nigerian Academy of Medicine, and the dRPC.
The 13 journalists were selected based on the quality of their stories, depth of work, writing style, and the ethics of reporting.
The News Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Journalism, Marcus Fatunmole took the first position.
A Senior Correspondent with The PUNCH, Lara Adejoro, won the runner-up award, and Nike Adebowale-Tambe won the second runner-up award.
The three journalists received various cash prizes at the event.