Nigeria’s minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, has said one per cent of the health budget at all levels of the government will be allocated to family planning (FP).
The decision, the minister noted, is part of efforts to reduce the mother and child death rate in the country. Mr Ehanire disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while launching Reproductive, Maternal Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) policy document and re-Inauguration of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) steering committee.
It was in commemoration of 2022 Safe Motherhood and Vasicovigina Fiscula (VVF) Day.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, and German Cooperation.
“The federal government of Nigeria is working to ensure availability of family planning commodities and services by launching the FP2030 commitment to increase domestic funding and sustainable financing through earmarking one per cent of the health budget at federal and state levels and perhaps also at local government level,” the minister said.
Also, he said there are other actions taken by the government to ensure that everybody aligns with the initiative. Mr Ehanire said the strategy allows eligible citizens including adolescents, young people and vulnerable populations to make informed choices and get equitable, affordable access to quality family planning participation in national development.
“Maternal and parental death surveillance and response is a priority initiative that gives the serious subject of maternal, parental and infant mortality and morbidity audit the attention it requires,” he added.
