The Minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government’s lack of fund resulted in shortage of family planning commodities which in turn is negatively impacting the achievement of its key family planning targets.
The Minister made the disclosure at a one-day summit organized by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalist (ANHEJ), supported by the Partnership for Advocacy In Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@scale) and anchored by the Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC).
Ehanire, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Family Planning Logistics, Pharm. Ugochukwu Alex, stated that family planning is globally recognized as an important strategy and intervention for the prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality.
“It is in the light of the above, that Nigeria has incorporated family planning as a key component in the National Policy on Population for Sustainable.
“The adoption and inclusive implementation by the national and sub-national level Governments, of Nigeria’s Family Planning Blueprint, FP2030 Commitment as well as other critical family planning documents equally form part of the solutions to the challenges facing the national family planning programme,” he stressed.
The Federal Ministry of Health also realised that the potentials of the private sector are not being harnessed adequately, hence the development of the Private Sector Engagement Strategy on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
“Government is hoping that the key Private Sector players will embrace this strategy and contribute to the expected success.
Speaking, the President of the Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, said health is a basic human right, when health is absent wisdom cannot manifest itself, making health a priority as number one or two on the government agenda will go a long way to reduce the challenges in the sector.
Prof. Ladipo added that provision of enough funds for the sector is paramount here, women are about 50% of the country’s population and no woman should die in the process of giving birth to another life.
“Maternal death in Nigeria is very shameful, we do not lack the qualities to make things work,” he stressed.
Also, the Chairman, Management Committee, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), Dr Ejike Orji, said that there should be a policy thrust to reverse the horrible trend, adding that family planning issues should be a concern for every patriotic Nigerian.
Orji called for good remuneration for midwives per month to get their commitment to work, adding that the family planning 2030 commitment of one per cent of the health budget must be made a priority at all government levels.
According to him, poor funding could lead to maternal death, and Nigeria has the highest rate of mortality in the world.
He called on the government to recruit more midwives and send them to the rural health facilities for them to perform their functions, and also mobilize the women about the family planning programmes.
Executive Director, International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) Mrs Moji Makanjuola, who was represented by Director of administration ISMPH, Mrs Folu Duke, stated that journalists are the gatekeeper and the conscience of the people who continue to push for change in the sector.
She urged journalists to form alliances with all health actors to keep on pushing for change in the health sector
Responding, President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Hassan Zaggi, called on the incoming leaders to consider improving access to family planning commodities and making maternal health services free.
He added that “Pregnant women should be able to access free services when they go for routine checks in the hospital. Also, any women who goes to give birth in the hospital, should be delivered free. Children under 6 months should have access to free medical treatment in all facilities.
Zaggi therefore called on journalist to the reality that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is estimated at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, far from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 70 per 100,000 live births.
“It is our responsibility as the media to bring the issues to the fore front, so that they will understand and prepare their minds to tackle them when eventually assume office,” he stressed. The theme for the summit was: “Re-echoing Voices for Family Planning Funding and need to make Maternal Health Services Free by incoming Political Leaders”.
