By Dan-Sani, Yola
Nigeria, joins the global community in commemorating World Contraception Day, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about contraception and promoting informed decisions on reproductive health.
The Adamawa State government, in collaboration with The Challenge Initiative (TCI), DEVCOMS, and other partners, organized a rally in the state capital to mark World Contraception Day. The rally aimed to campaign against cultural norms preventing mothers from child spacing and create awareness about various contraceptive methods, right to choice, and more.
We are using this platform to highlight the critical role of contraception in empowering individuals to take control of their reproductive health
Health experts in Nigeria, including Prof. Josiah Mutihir of Jos University Teaching Hospital, stated via a press release signed and made available to journalists in Yola, Adamawa State, by Eletu Suliyat, Communication Program Officer, DEVCOMS Network: “We are using this platform to highlight the critical role of contraception in empowering individuals to take control of their reproductive health.”
Despite years of global celebrations, Nigeria continues to face significant barriers in family planning. The country’s contraceptive prevalence rate has shown minimal improvement, with a usage rate of just 17% and an unmet need for contraception at 24.8%.
The Power of Options: Empowering Choice, Enhancing Health
Prof. Mutihir emphasized that expanding access to contraception is key to improving health outcomes, reducing maternal mortality, and ensuring young Nigerians can make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Options: Empowering Choice, Enhancing Health,” underscores the importance of diverse contraceptive choices, especially in resource-limited settings like Nigeria.
Nigeria’s challenges in contraceptive access are multifaceted, including:
Experts call for a collective effort to break the barriers to contraceptive access in Nigeria, including government action, leadership advocacy, sustained advocacy, and private sector involvement
Poor funding from government authorities
Limited availability of contraceptive methods
Untrained healthcare providers
Cultural, religious, and political influences
Lovina Emole, a participant from Akwa Ibom, stressed the significant challenge posed by limited government funding for reproductive health programs.
Increased contraceptive use can have far-reaching benefits
To address these challenges, experts call for a collective effort to break the barriers to contraceptive access in Nigeria, including government action, leadership advocacy, sustained advocacy, and private sector involvement.
Increased contraceptive use can have far-reaching benefits, including:
- Reduced maternal and infant mortality rates
- Improved socio-economic conditions
- Empowered women with freedom of choice in reproductive health decisions
Experts and stakeholders urged policymakers, healthcare providers, and individuals to prioritize contraceptive access and education, ensuring a healthier, more empowered future for all Nigerians.
