By Lizzy Carr
An Advocacy Core Group in Bauchi state has called for the government to begin the procurement of Childbirth spacing (CBS) commodities to reduce the unmet needs of women of reproductive age for CBS services.
The call was made by the Group while addressing the Press on the commemoration of World Population Day 2023 with the theme: “Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality: Lifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock our World’s Infinite Possibilities” in Bauchi.
Musa Dan’ Azumi Tafawa Balewa who read the text of the briefing on behalf of the ACG stressed the need for all to stand with women and girls in fighting for their reproductive rights.
“We must unite once more and spread awareness, speak up and talk about the importance of Childbirth spacing with everyone around us,”
Citing the 2018 NDHS data which revealed that the fertility rate in Bauchi is put at 7.2 children per woman, that is a woman will have 7 to 8 children in her lifetime is against the national figure of 5.3 or 5 children per woman is a population concern.
“This is partly due to the fact that women (that carry the burden of pregnancy and childbirth) most times cannot exercise their reproductive rights to make decisions on when to have children,”
He added that recent happenings in the state have shown that there is Increased demand for childbirth spacing services with no corresponding supply of modern contraception methods which if left unchecked may lead to a population explosion in the state.
“Halfway to the 2030 deadline, the Sustainable Development Goals are dangerously off-track. With this, gender equality is far away from us. Progress on maternal health and access to family planning has been glacial,”
This year’s World Population Day focuses on unleashing the power of gender equality. Gender-based discrimination harms everyone — women, girls, men, and boys. Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries.
Advancing gender equality, improving maternal health, and empowering women to make their own reproductive choices are both essential in themselves, and central to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Core Group stressed that Empowering women and girls, including education and access to modern contraception will help to support them in their aspirations — and to chart the path of their own lives stressing.
“The population of Nigeria is growing and Bauchi State is not left behind so we need to celebrate this day keeping in mind how many people the world can contain,”
Balewa stated that governments must fortify the rights of women and girls to ensure a more inclusive and resilient global population.
“Imagine a world where everyone – all 8 billion of us – has a future bursting with promise and potential. Now open your eyes to the current reality that 4 billion women and girls – half of humanity – face discrimination solely based on their gender,”
UNFPA stated that thirty years ago, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), it set out to achieve a world in which people lived longer, healthier lives and enjoyed more rights and choices than ever before.
According to UNFPA, “This vision has become a reality for many; in fact, the human population is at its highest number ever, thanks in large part to improvements in health care and increased longevity. Yet, as we celebrate the progress that has been made, we must also recognize that for millions, even billions, of others this promise remains out of reach,”
It added, “This World Population Day is a reminder that we can achieve the prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future envisioned by the ICPD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development if we harness the power of every human being on the planet. When we unlock the full potential of women and girls – encouraging and nurturing their desires for their lives, their families, and their careers – we galvanize half the leadership, ideas, innovation, and creativity to better society,”
“Realizing sexual and reproductive health and rights for all is the foundation for gender equality, dignity, and opportunity. Nevertheless, over 40 percent of women around the world cannot exercise their right to make decisions as fundamental as whether or not to have children. Empowering women and girls, including through education and access to modern contraception, helps to support them in their aspirations — and to chart the path of their own lives,” UNFPA added.
It stressed that advancing gender equality is a cross-cutting solution to many population concerns. In aging societies that worry about labor productivity, achieving gender parity in the workforce is the most effective way to improve output and income growth.
Meanwhile, in countries experiencing rapid population growth, women’s empowerment through education and family planning can bring enormous benefits by way of human capital and inclusive economic growth.
Thirty years ago, the world united behind a shared vision of the future, one that recognized the rights of women and girls as central to global development.
