As Nigeria rolls out strategies for the realisation of its Family Planning targets by 2030 (FP 2030), stakeholders in the nation’s healthcare sector wants governments to focus on strategic purchases on health budgets with particular emphasis on Family Planning services.
Participants at the ongoing Nigeria Family Planning Conference believe that, expanding access to Family Planning methods will impact on every aspect of human development including the climate, economy, education sector.
Speaking to newsmen on the side lines of the 7th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, the Chairman, Management Committee of the Association for Advancement of Family Planning, Dr. Ejike Oji, said investment in Family Planning will not only move Nigeria from demographic crisis to demographic dividends.
“The only thing bigger than Family Planning investment in healthcare according to World Bank classification is cataract surgery. The greatest return on investment in healthcare is Family Planning services as it impacts on every aspect. It impacts on the climates, it impacts on the woman’s health, it impacts on the children’s education and allows the woman time to earn a living.
“Every dollar spent on Family Planning, you make about $8.4, which is about 800percent return on investment. This will help reduce maternal mortality, reduce infant mortality and improve development as you will be able to spend more in schools.
“About a month ago, the world hit the 8billion mark and this present an opportunity for either growth or disaster. So this conference is looking at everything about family planning and this is the 7th in the series and every time we look at contextually what is happening in the world and our environment to make sure that everything we are is in consonance with global commitment we have made.”
Oji, who also commended the Federal government for its commitment towards actualizing its Family Planning targets by 2030 (FP 2030), asked that more attention be given to the rural demography in order to fast track its vision of ensuring that 27percent of women in reproductive age access and use modern contraceptive tools.
“Nigeria has made a commitment to put 1percent of its national health budget to issues of family planning in its budget between now and 2030. This will help us achieved the funding of family planning which is the first thing we need to do if we must transit from demographic crisis to demographic dividends.”
On engagement with critical stakeholders like families especially in rural areas, Oji said the Federal government has developed tools like Behavioural Change Plan and Communication Plan which AAFP intends to scale down to rural communities through religious and community leaders who have been asked to evangelise family planning to their members.
He said the AFB also intends to work with the network of government agencies like the Nigeria Orientation Agency, which has over 4000 people in all nooks and crannies of this country to reach the grassroots.
One of the discussants, Yusuf Nuhu, explained FP 2030 has some guiding principles that will help drive process towards achieving commitments in countries that have made commitment as well as supporting stakeholders that have made those commitments.
“First, its going to be a country led global partnership with shared learning and mutual accountability for and commitments and results. Secondly, voluntary persons cantered right based approaches to Family Planning with equity at the core and thirdly a commitment to gender equality with support for empowering women and girls and engaging men and boys and communities and lastly being an intentional and equitable partnership with adolescents, youths and marginalised population to meet their needs informed by accurate and desegregated data collection and use.”
Nigeria’s Family Planning vision for 2030 is to have a country where everyone including adolescent, youths, population affected by crises and other vulnerable population are able to make informed choices, have equitable and affordable access to quality Family Planning and also participate as equals in society’s development.
