Chioma Umeha
Research has shown that population size is vital
to the growth of any nation and has a direct impact on other areas of
development, particularly on human resources.
Increasingly, there have been global calls for
countries to focus on the development of human capital, including provision of
adequate infrastructure, housing, health and educational facilities. Other
areas are potable water, food, job creation and the management of key natural
resources.
Specifically, the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) recently expressed worry over increase in the number of world
population and called for attention in view of the available data on population
explosion, saying it is anti-development.
Responding to the global call, experts at the
fifth biennial Nigeria Family Planning Conference (NFPC2018) recently called
for increased investment in family planning, saying that it is a positive force
to improve national planning and development.
They made the demand in Abuja, after three days of
brainstorming over barriers of women in accessing family planning (FP) services
in the country.
Explaining the need for increased investment in
family planning, Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, said this
could serve as a means of improving national planning and development.
Ehanire said this at the closing ceremony of the
conference, with a theme, ‘Investment, Innovation, Inclusiveness.’
The minister said the conference became imperative
in order to convene FP planning stakeholders to discuss and share experiences.
He said it also provided the stakeholders the
opportunity to share ideas and innovation, and also serve as a platform in
identifying new issues.
“The Federal Government adopted the option of
investing in FP, which has been proven to be an investment that is cost
effective as well as lifesaving choice.
“Family planning also contributed to the building
of the country’s economic potential and positive step towards building a
healthy and happy family.
“The conference was a platform to identify urgent
issues towards innovations in planning and child birth spacing towards changing
the narratives of the nation’s poor contraceptives,’’ Ehanire said.
The minister also said the primary objective of
the conference was on the need for the nation to reap demographic dividend.
“He said the present administration had adopted to
invest in FP which had proven to be the smartest choice that would help in
building a healthier and happy family,’’ said Ehanire.
He said that every responsible country would make
provision for its citizens, noting that the conference provided guidance to
appropriate investment and innovations such as financing FP services, among others.
Ehanire also noted that the conference focused on
three critical groups; the faith based groups, women and youths.
“It did not only help articulate their needs but
what each group could do to advance the frontiers of FP strategy.
“Our discussions focused on providing guidance
innovaion with some of the private sectors.
“Financing FP services in the context of health
insurance and innovative financing; Nigeria investment case in maternal
mortality, adolescent health and nutrition, and annual population lecture
series.
“The role of private sector in expanding FP
services in Nigeria; proven innovation in expanding access of FP services and
expanding the services and new learning.
“We must galvanise the ideas and learning from the
event to reposition, promote and strengthen FP in the country and also provide
right investment towards ensuring quality services,’’ Ehanire said.
He commended the AAFP, stakeholders and donor
agencies, UNFPA, UNSAID, Bill and Melinda Gates for their continued support and
investment in FP.
He therefore assured that the Federal Ministry of
Health would continue to collaborate with stakeholders for effective services.
Contributing, Dr Chris Ngige, Nigeria’s Minister
of Labour and Employment, said the Federal Government would work with other
partners in taking the population of the country to an advantage.
Ngige said this while delivering his key note
address to mark the sixth Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS) with the
theme “Governance, People’s Rights and Opportunities.”
According to him, there will not be a viable
country without people, saying that the federal government is not afraid by the
growing large population.
Ngige added that the ministry was working hard to
increase the work force as well as reduce the unemployment rate of 18.4 per
cent which he said was unacceptable.
He restated commitment to work with the National
Population Commission (NPopC).
