Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called for prioritisation of young people and leveraging technology and innovative outreach to reach the last mile of Family Planning (FP) services.
He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 8th Family Planning Conference 2024 on Thursday in Abuja.
The conference has “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Programmes in Advancing Progress Toward Achieving FP2030 Goals” as its theme.
Adewole, who is also the Chairman of the event, said the theme of this year’s conference resonates with the strides made over the years and challenges that still demand urgent attention.
He added that “effective family planning services can reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve quality of life and economic empowerment, particularly among women.
“The inclusion of family planning into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme ensures that services are accessible and affordable for all Nigerians, irrespective of economic status.
“Continuous strengthening of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the backbone of primary healthcare in Nigeria, enhances our ability to reach underserved communities with essential services.
“We must, therefore, prioritise young people, representing most of our population, by making family planning services youth-friendly and accessible. We must also leverage technology and innovative outreach methods to reach the last mile.”
On the future of family planning in Nigeria, Adewole said it depends on three key strategies, which include expanding access to services in primary healthcare systems.
He added that every health facility should be equipped to meet the host community’s needs.
The former minister urged the conference participants to focus on actionable solutions that would address the needs of the most marginalised, vulnerable, and underserved populations.
“I urge stakeholders, policymakers, healthcare providers, donors, community advocates and the private sector to join hands to accelerate progress. The time to act is now,” Adewole urged.
NAN
