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The Federal Government has said 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, stated this during the National Symposium to commemorate 2024 World Population Day in Abuja on Friday.
The event, which was co-organised by various CSOs, and supported by the Development Research and Project Centre, aimed at improving family planning services and healthcare access across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this year’s symposium themed, ‘Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All” was organised by the Population Association of Nigeria.
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.
Anas-Kolo emphasised the critical role that access to family planning services plays in improving maternal health outcomes, adding, “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.
The special adviser on health said, “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 noted that family planning is a key investment for demographic dividends empowers individuals to make informed reproductive choices and enhances health and economic outcomes.
In a joint lead presentation on “Contraceptive Accessibility and Costs Amidst the Cost-of-Living Crisis,” by the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, Dr Ejike Oji, it was noted that three million dollars were made available for family planning in the country.
He said since 2012, family planning had been free, with an additional 8.3 million dollars allocated for commodities.
The chairman noted that investing in family planning services is one of the most effective strategies to reduce maternal mortality.
He added, “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, the Director of Projects at dRPC, Dr Stanley Ukpai, said 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 requires a multifaceted approach involving government policies, community education and international support,” he stated,
Ukpai, therefore, urged state governments to prioritise family planning services in the global effort to reduce maternal mortality.
During his presentation, the Strategic Content Lead at Nigeria Health Watch, Mr Alexander Chiejina, highlighted the importance of achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
He 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.
On his part, the President of the Population Association of Nigeria, Prof Enang Ebingha Erena, said though family planning awareness is high, acceptability remains low and called for improved education, innovation, and less reliance on donor funds.
The Director and Head of the Family Health Department, FMoH, Dr Oluseyi Omokore, said in spite of increasing family planning interventions, results were not proportional.
He stressed the need for more effective strategies for the country’s 40 million women of reproductive age.
(NAN)
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