By Asma’u Ahmad
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government would re-validate its agreement with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to boost the contraceptive prevalence in Nigeria. The Minister gave the indication at official opening ceremony of the 4th National Family Planning Conference in Abuja.
Prof. Adewole said that the federal government had earlier made an annual commitment of $3 million dollars for the family planning services, adding that in 2017, the money would be $4 million.
He said the gesture was to increase demand for the services in Nigeria adding that the task before the government was to push for the contraceptive prevalence to 50 per cent.
He tasked stakeholders to always emphasize the benefit of family planning, which is far beyond child spacing stressing that family planning cures anaemia and eliminate poverty among others.
Adewole also unveiled documents on the Christian and Muslims perspectives on family planning.
He said both religions support family planning and encourage the government to invest more in it.
Speaking earlier, Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the conference, Dr. Ejike Oji, said the conference focused on bringing all family planning stakeholders to discuss and share experiences on the progress made and chart the way forward towards improving the existing situation of family planning.
Similarly, Country Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mairo Mandara, said the Foundation believed that every life has equal value.
Mairo Mandara said the foundation supported people in health, agriculture, financial services water and sanitation among others.
She added that the foundation believed that family planning was not just about child spacing and delay in child birth, it also supported women to realize their potentials.
She also tasked stakeholders to allow the youth not only to partner but take the lead in the advocacy campaigns on family planning.
