Former Minister of Health and conference chairman at the 8th National Family Planning Conference, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has emphasised the crucial role of family planning in reducing maternal mortality and advancing Nigeria‘s health and development goals.
Speaking during the Family Planning conference in Abuja, themed: „Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Programs in Advancing Progress toward Achieving FP2030 Goals, Adewole highlighted the alarming maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, one of the highest globally, and its link to limited access to family planning services.
He explained that over 19 percent of married women in Nigeria face an unmet need for contraception, often resulting in unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, which contribute to maternal deaths.
„Family planning is a lifesaving intervention,“ Adewole stated, adding that by enabling women to space and limit births, we can significantly reduce health risks, improve economic productivity, and empower women to contribute meaningfully to national development.“
He commended the strides made through initiatives like the National Family Planning Blueprint and the integration of family planning into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme. These efforts, he said, have laid a foundation for progress but require sustained commitment to overcome persistent challenges, including cultural barriers, funding gaps, and accessibility issues in underserved communities.
Adewole called for innovative and inclusive solutions, urging stakeholders to prioritise equitable access to contraceptive services, particularly for adolescents and marginalised populations. „Investing in family planning is investing in the health and future of our nation,“ he asserted.
The former minister called for collective action to make family planning a central pillar of Nigeria’s health agenda and a tool for reducing maternal mortality across the country.
