FG To Improve Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
The Federal Government has pledged increased funding for family planning to improve access and achieve a 27 per cent modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) among women by next year.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Daju Kachollom, made the promise in Abuja at the opening of a two-day yearly national pause and reflect the moment of the Society for Family Health’s (SFH) Adolescent 360 programme (A360), with the theme: “Consolidating the Gains of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Programming in Nigeria.”
She said the government was committed to addressing the critical issue of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASH), and ensuring that modern contraception becomes not just accessible, but relevant to teenagers.
Her words: “Our commitment to the government of Nigeria’s agenda to achieving a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 27 per cent by 2024 is unwavering. It is not merely a target, it is a promise to our nation’s youths, a promise to empower them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.”
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Kachollom noted that the current phase of the A360 Amplify programme has placed a strong emphasis on Human-Centered Design (HCD) and integration into public health and development systems, adding that the “strategic shift is driven by our collective recognition that lasting impact and sustainability can only be achieved through the seamless integration of ASH services into our healthcare landscape”.
Represented by the Director of Family Health, Dr. Stella Nwosu, the permanent secretary added: “We are not merely creating solutions, we are transforming systems.
“I call on states to begin to brainstorm on innovative approaches to sustain the programme. The importance of our work extends far beyond the lifespan of A360. The delivery of our commitments to adaptation is pivotal to achieving institutionalisation and sustainability. It is our duty to ensure that the gains we have achieved thus far are not short-lived but become an enduring legacy that future generations can build upon.”
Managing Director of the host organisation, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, explained: “Over the years, SFH, in close partnership with government and partners, has pushed forward to advance gender equality and further the empowerment of women and girls. This has helped towards increasing the chances of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health, nutrition, education, gender equality, and even food security.”
Idogho, who was represented by Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, added: “The project has achieved key milestones by supporting the expansion of youth-focused service delivery seeking to attain at least 70 per cent of Primary Health Centre (PHC) coverage in focal states.”
Roselyn Odeh, the Project Director, further added that the event served as a critical checkpoint for assessing progress, refining strategies and building political will to overcome challenges of ASRH programming and achieve “our institutionalisation and sustainability.”
