Chioma Umeha
To improve reproductive healthcare in the country,
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), a
non-governmental organisation, has tasked government at levels to increase its
investment in the area.
The demand came after a strategic meeting and
training workshop of the Network which its members are Nigerian journalists
that campaign for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) issues and
policies.
According to a communique issued at the end of the
meeting which held in Ibadan, Oyo State recently and jointly signed by the
President and Secretary of the Network, Mr. Roland Ogbonnaya and Mrs. Yinka
Shokunbi respectively, the Network said the state of reproductive health care
in the country was ‘below acceptable standard.’
Consequently, the Network expressed
dissatisfaction that government at the Federal and state levels were not doing
enough to improve the situation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines
reproductive health as a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The world health body further states;
“Reproductive health addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system
at all stages of life.
“Reproductive health, therefore, implies that
people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that
they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and
how often to do so.”
NRHJN regretted that Nigeria is in a demographic
crisis as a result of poor investment in family planning tools/ services and
health infrastructure.
Bemoaning the poor state of health facilities in
the country, the NGO noted that the worrisome situation had denied women access
to healthcare apart from imposing huge economic burden on Nigerians when
seeking healthcare.
It also lamented that state governments have
abandoned their responsibility especially as it involves the provision of
Primary Health Care services, leaving this burden to the Federal Government
despite the fact that health care falls under the concurrent list of the 1999
constitution as amended.
It noted: “Women have been denied access to
contraceptive services which is a breach of their fundamental human rights. The
Network frowns at the low use of modern contraceptives which has resulted in a
large population burden and has led to a strain on development and allocation
of resources.”
NRHJN further faulted the expanded US Global Gag
Rule (GGR) introduced by President Donald Trump and observed that it portends
adverse consequences and devastating effects on the health of women and girls
in Nigeria.
Decrying the impact of the GGR, the network said
that more Nigerian women were losing access to contraception, while more
incidences of unintended and unwanted pregnancies, abortions and unsafe
abortions and deaths of women were being recorded.
The group therefore, urged religious and
traditional leaders to help debunk myths and misconceptions around family planning
while promoting its acceptance.
NRHJN also urged medical and health personnel in
the country to be committed towards reducing the stigma around abortion
especially as it is a factor in the high rate of deaths resulting from unsafe
abortion practices.
Similarly, the group called on the federal
government to respond to Trump’s GGR by investing more in health and taking
advantage of family planning as a development strategy to save billions in
scarce resources and reduce poverty.
It further urged the federal government to utilize
monies recovered from corrupt persons in providing access to healthcare,
especially at the grassroots for women and children.
The Network also enjoined the federal government
to be more committed to the health of women by protecting their health and
promoting the rights issue.
On why the government should be more committed to
healthcare provision, the NGO explained that putting money in health and human
infrastructure is an investment not expenditure.
“Government at the Federal and State levels should
be more committed to protecting women’s health and promoting the rights issue,
while appreciating that putting money into health and human infrastructure is
an investment not expenditure.”
