Health professionals are calling for the provision of free pregnancy care and increased accessibility to contraceptives for all Nigerian women in an effort to reduce maternal deaths.
This plea was made during the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Summit 1.0 held in Abuja, which focused on empowering women to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
Highlighting the significance of World Contraception Day (26th September) and International Safe Abortion Day (28th September), the summit underscored the importance of contraception, family planning, and safe abortion care in safeguarding the health and rights of women and girls.
Professor Rosemary Ogu, the National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, emphasized the critical role of contraception in preventing maternal mortality, enabling women to pursue education, and unlocking the full potential of individuals.
The summit also shed light on the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing family planning services, resulting in higher maternal mortality rates.
Professor Ogu stressed the urgency of increasing governmental support for reproductive health initiatives and ensuring equitable access to contraceptives to address these disparities.
Lucky Palmer, the Country Director of Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, emphasized the detrimental impact of limited access to contraception and safe abortion services on maternal mortality rates in Nigeria.
“Currently, Nigeria contributes about 28 per cent of global maternal mortality. It’s the highest in the world. In some countries, when one or two women die from pregnancy-related complications, there are serious consequences. But in Nigeria, it has become normal, and we don’t question it. This should not be the case.
“We must do whatever is possible to stop it. Contraception enables women to space their pregnancies and recover fully before becoming pregnant again. This makes the pregnancy experience much safer and more enjoyable.
“Abortion is not a moral issue; it is a healthcare issue and should be treated as such,” Palmer said.
Dr. Ejike Orji, Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past eight years.
However, he noted that Nigeria still holds the unenviable position of having the highest maternal mortality rate globally, with a disproportionate number of victims being young girls.
Orji emphasized the need for sustainable funding, highlighting that family planning efforts have historically relied on donor support. Encouragingly, the current administration has made a significant allocation, supplemented by donor contributions.
Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi, Board Chair of the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria, stressed the critical importance of accessible healthcare for young Nigerians, particularly pregnant women, in curbing the nation’s alarming maternal mortality rate.
Omo-Obi said, “Modern contraceptive prevalence and maternal mortality ratios are key indicators of a country’s progress. When contraceptives are not available, the contraceptive prevalence rate drops, and maternal mortality increases.
“Observing these days brings to the forefront the urgent need for Nigeria and Nigerians to advance discussions and ensure contraceptive services are available and accessible to all when needed.
“We hope that every child, every woman, every boy, and every girl will fulfil their fundamental right to have children by choice, not by chance. This can only be achieved with access to contraceptives.”
