By Asmau Ahmad
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to create policies that would increase access to family planning programmes for couples.
Director, Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Boladale Alonge, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the 2023 Annual Family Planning Technical Review meeting.
Represented by an official of the ministry, Mrs. Bako Aiyegbusi, he said the Federal Government was determined to eliminate challenges militating against the uptake of family planning programmes.
He explained that the meeting would offer opportunities to close existing gaps in family planning advocacy and implementation.
“It is pertinent to note that the Federal Ministry of Health is working to expand access to family planning commodities.
“The Federal Government has developed policies to ensure that every couple has access to family planning programmes,’’ she said.
She expressed gratitude to UN Population Fund and to other multilateral partners for their support and gave an assurance that cultural beliefs and other barriers militating against family planning would be overcome.
In her remarks, Practice Area Lead, Family Planning/Reproductive Health Society for Family Health, an international NGO, Mrs Roseline Ode, said the meeting was necessary to scale up services for family planning.
She described family planning as fundamental to reducing maternal mortality rate and promoting the production of qualitative children.
She noted that family planning was imperative for couples the world over.
The Chairman, Technical Management Committee, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, another international NGO, Dr. Ejike Oji, said progress was being made in the implementation of the “Family Planning-2030’’ goals.
Oji affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving unmet needs for family planning, which he said was paramount in realising the 27 per cent commitment by Nigeria.
