A Consultant Family Physician, Dr Bode Oluwagbemi, has called on state governments to improve their budgetary provision and advocacy for family planning to break the cultural barriers and stigma associated with it.
Oluwagbemi made the call in an interview in commemoration of the 2024 World Population Day on Thursday in Lagos.
World Population Day is celebrated annually on July 11, to increase people’s awareness of various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.
Oluwagbemi, who decried the low uptake of family planning among women, attributed the situation to the cultural barriers, myths and stigma associated with the system in Nigeria.
According to him, the focus should be on how to break down the cultural barriers and stigma associated with family planning.
Oluwagbemi said there was a need for women’s empowerment to enable them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
He said that the increased advocacy and funding were imperative to break down all barriers against women and girls’ children as regards family planning matters, to control and maintain a healthy population for the country.
He said it would also ensure that every woman and girl in the country has the knowledge and resources to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
According to him, family planning is a fundamental human right, not an option.
“Family planning is not just a matter of reproductive health, it is a fundamental human right.
”It is the key to empowering women and girls to make informed choices about their bodies, their futures, and their families.
“The practice of family planning has a significant impact on environmental sustainability. By regulating population growth, it effectively alleviates the strain on natural resources and minimises environmental pressure.
“This fosters a harmonious and sustainable coexistence between human communities and the Earth, ultimately bolstering long-term ecological well-being,” he said.
The Physician described family planning as a pathway to gender equality, economic stability, improved healthcare outcomes and the cornerstone of a brighter and more prosperous future for Nigeria.
He said that the World Population Day celebrated every July 11, should serve as a reminder of the critical importance of access to family planning services.
NAN
