8th Nigeria Family Planning conference charting the way forward for family planning

By Emiene Erameh

Family planning according to the WHO is the ability to choose the number and timing of children, and to prevent pregnancy-related health risks It can include, using contraceptives, such as pills, implants, injections, patches, vaginal rings, intrauterine devices, condoms, and sterilization.

Very simple right, and something every one of reproductive age should subscribe to isn’t it. Sadly, this is not always the case as there is sometimes resistance, stigma and rejection of Family Planning (FP) as a result of religious and cultural beliefs.

The 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference which held from December 2-6 was the right place to get all the answers and efforts to scale up FP uptake in Nigeria because it was a gathering of relevant stakeholders in the sector and our correspondent Emiene Erameh takes us through the key conversations that held during the conference. From the women and youth pre-conference, to panel discussions to the conference proper.

The 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference has come and gone but the lessons learnt and conversations that took centre stage will hopefully serve as a pointer to ensure the success of FP campaigns in Nigeria and ensure the success of FP2030.

FP2030 is the global partnership focused on family planning. This singular focus unites a wide of partners across disciplines and sectors aimed at putting family planning at the center of global health, development, and gender equality.

PRE-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES

YOUTH

The Youth pre-conference afforded young people the opportunity to speak to the issues of inclusivity as a means of ensuring equal access.

With a youth population of about 70% representing approximately 160 million out of Nigeria’s estimated 230 million people, young people at the end of the pre-conference called for a power shift in promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health services among youth in Nigeria.

This they said can be achieved by investing in building the capacity of young people to create an enabling environment that encourages a power shift from the old to the younger generation.

Margaret Bolaji, Chair, Youth Sub-committee said the youth should take charge of their personal brand by utilizing the power of social media to stretch, grow, and thrive. “We should work to create safe spaces for young people to dialogue on their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and brainstorm solutions with their peers and other key stakeholders.”

WOMEN PRECONFERENCE

Women at the Pre-conference discussed FP and how it affects their lives, challenges they experience with FP, such as access to family planning commodities, side effects and the stigma that is sometimes associated with FP.  Conversations that took center stage include increasing the health literacy of men to ensure increased uptake of FP.

Professor Rhoda Mundi Chair of the Abstract committee said the pre-conference goal is to empower women as agents of change.

Experts stressed the need to make informed choice of contraceptives for women to reduce adverse reactions and urged any one experiencing adverse reaction to a particular FP method to change to another.

CONFERENCE PROPER

With an attendance figure of 1,297 across the pre-and mid-conferences, the conference can be said to have been well attended with relevant stakeholders and industry players as well as government officials and donor agencies fully represented.

Stakeholders discussed the imperative of looking for other funding sources for FP, the government of states, private sector, and unions were also tasked to work out ways that insurance can cover for all FP services.

Also, the need to maintain the availability of FP commodities, including in the private sector, beyond corporate social responsibility, took centre stage including efforts like the drug development fund and also other efforts that state governments are making to make sure that there is commodity security.

The strengthening of the sector-wide approach the need to increase the public planning CBR by 2% every year, in order to reach the 27% by 2030 while commending the allocation of 1 percent for FP in Nigeria’s budget was another recommendation made.

While it was agreed that some level of progress has been made all these actions are needed to address gaps, such as unmet needs and recognized regional disparities in the country.

NEXT STEPS

Recommendations were made that more faith-based leaders should move in the fields to advocate for family planning in ways that are more visible presently as well as creating avenues for acceptance of other contraceptive methods into religious teachings.

Other recommendations included asking decision-makers in the society to take time to make sure that they evangelize family planning and incorporate new learnings, high-impact practices, and push for greater equity for FP.