By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Kaduna state government has been urged to invest more funds on family planning (FP) services and programs in order to save the lives of 6, 980 children and 976 women by 2018.
The call was necessitated in order to reduce mortality among women and children by increasing uptake of FP to enable the state meet its blueprint goal of Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) from 20.2 to 46.5 percent, thereby contributing to the attainment of the national blueprint from 15 to 36 percent by 2018.
This was made known during a paper presentation at a breakfast meeting with Media executives in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria, organized by Family Health Advocates Of Nigeria Initiative and Initiative for Social sector advocacy (FHANI/ISSA), – a Health Advocacy group in collaboration with a palladium group.
Maternal deaths in Nigeria are estimated at; 576 per 100,000 live births, dyeing as a result of pregnancy related causes, while one in eight children died before his/her fifth birthday.
Chairman of FHANI/ISSA Shehu Usman Muhammad, while making the presentation on the topic, ‘Family Planning (Child Birth Spacing) A Cost Effective Way Of Reducing Maternal Morbidity And Mortality’ explained that for Kaduna to enjoy full method choice for women and couples, as well as the sizeable potential health and economic benefits of FP, the government must commit to allocating and disbursing funds for services and creating an enabling environment for programs.
According to him, if the government commits more funds to FP, Kaduna could save N4.48 billion in direct healthcare expenses by 2018 against the status quo of N3.40 billion.
He added that, “Today, every one Naira spent on family planning in Kaduna saves N1.33 in direct maternal and infant healthcare costs. Increase government investment in more cost-effective FP methods could increase these saving to N1.83 per N1 spent by 2018.”
He however called on both state and local government to allocate adequate budget for the provision of FP services in order to achieve the 2018 goal.
Earlier in his welcoming address, Vice Chairman of the group, Bala Tijjani noted that FHANI-ISSA looks at a wider horizon on promoting health issues that concerns women and children so as to draw public and government attention.
Also speaking, Communication officer of the group, Hauwa Saulawa, called on the media to continue to champion the cause by evidence based reports to call for action towards an issue, adding that, Child birth spacing is the best way to reduce maternal and child mortality especially in the North.
Media executives present at the meeting pledged their support in disseminating issues that concern reproductive health of women and children.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2017/11/29/news/nigeria-child-spacing-advocates-converge-on-kaduna-to-scale-up-strategies-towards-reducing-maternal-deaths/
