Dr Talemoh Dah, Senior Technical Adviser, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON-PAS) has identified funding and policy as major factors affecting Family Planning (FP) services in the Nigeria.
While adding that; “there is the need to also pursue a multichannel engagement with key government stakeholders, especially the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Federal Ministry of Finance as well as all levels of government to prioritise FP issues.
He made this known during his presentation on “Family Planning Financing”, at a media round table on the Proposed 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference scheduled to hold on the 7th to 11th of December, 2020 in Abuja.
Dah also challenged the media to ensure that funds allocated to family planning services were released and programmes fully implemented.
Saying; “All partners involved should share comparative advantages and strong relationships to advocacy.”
The SOGON technical adviser noted that the Federal Government updated its commitment at the FP Summit in London on July 11, 2017 with the target of reaching 27 per cent maternal Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR).
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health with the approval from the Federal Executive Council renewed the MoU with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to ensure provision of four Million U.S. Dollars annually from 2017 to 2020 for procurement of contraceptives for the public sector.
The commitment, he said is an increase from the three million dollars committed from 2011 to 2014.
He further stated that; “With the MoU, Nigeria was expected to contribute N1.2 billion annually to the basket fund over a period of four years from 2017 to 2020.
“However, as at November, there is a gap of N900 million not released in 2019 and the N1.2 billion also not released this year,” he added.
Dah, therefore, noted that the forthcoming biennial FP conference would provide the avenue for stakeholders to brainstorm, debate and exchange ideas, share experiences on the progress made so far.
He said the stakeholders would also identify emerging issues on FP/reproductive health, and chart the way forward toward improving the existing situation.
