Pathfinder International says Nigeria is the sixth most populous nation in the World with 27% Contraceptives Prevalence Rate, CPR, which makes Child’s spacing uptake imperative.
The Programme Co-ordinator of Pathfinder International, Ms Hauwa Usman this known at a National Level Media Partners workshop in Lafia the Nasarawa State Capital, Northcentral Nigeria.
According to her, Child spacing is the most effective way to achieve demographic dividend in the country.
Ms Usman told Voice of Nigeria Child’s spacing advocacy was not targeted at discouraging women from having children but to plan for a better living.
She said; “With Child birth, which sometimes causes death of mother and child, we all know that family planning is the most effective way to reduce maternal mortality. We are not saying you should stop giving birth but there is room for women and families to plan and space their children.”
Ms Usman who regretted the failure of Nigeria to achieve the Family Planning, FP’s Bcommitment of 2020, expressed optimism that it would be achieved by 2030.
Lack of funds
She explained that ”lack of funding and delay in release of funds were responsible for the failure in achieving FP 2020.”
Describing Advance Family Planning, AFP, as an advocacy based project, Ms Usman said that the essence of the workshop was to orient Journalists on demographical dividend.
According to her, ”the advocacy project is targeted at decision makers, but ultimately the beneficiaries are those women and girls in the communities.”
Ms Usman reiterated the determination of Pathfinder International to continue to work in synergy with Media organisations and Civil Societies to achieve their goal.
Pathfinder International, based in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA, is a global non-profit organisation that focuses on reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and maternal health.
The organisation operates in more than 15 low- and middle-income Countries in Africa and South Asia.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
