Joel Ajayi
Federal government has revealed present government is working tirelessly to expand access to high-quality maternal and child health services for all Nigerians.
Speaking in Thursday in Abuja, at the fifth anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Kwarra,
Kwarra said government has made considerable progress has been achieved in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
The 2024 commemoration of the summit with the theme: “The March Continues: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All,” as theme.
According to him, strategic investments have been made to expand access to high-quality maternal and child health services, grounded in the belief that women’s health is critical to national prosperity.
“This ensures that women can make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or discrimination, thereby upholding their rights.
“Comprehensive national policies and stronger legislation have been implemented to prevent GBV, providing support and justice to survivors.
“The establishment of safe spaces, community outreach programs, and support services, developed in collaboration with civil society organisations foster a safer and more inclusive environment for women and girls.”
He, however, said that while the nation has made considerable progress, the journey is not yet complete as much work remains to be done.
However, Kwarra said that GBV was a global issue that remains a priority and that the Federal Government has made significant strides in aligning national policies with the goals of the ICPD and the commitments renewed in Nairobi
Kwarra identified a major setback to be the delay in conducting a population and housing census.
“The delay in conducting the census, particularly in the face of logistical and financial constraints, has hindered efforts to assess the full scope of population needs and allocate resources effectively, especially in rural and underserved areas.”
In his addressed the Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr Koessan Kuawu, said that the theme was a reminder that “The March Continues”.
He said that over the past 30 years, the ICPD principles have guided global and national efforts, and commended Nigeria for its achievements over the years.
“Maternal mortality has decreased slightly, access to family planning has expanded, and public awareness of SRHR has grown.
“UNFPA is proud to have partnered with the government of Nigeria, civil society, development partners, and other stakeholders in driving these achievements.”
He, however, said that in spite of the gains, significant challenges persist as everyday, women and girls especially the marginalised populations across Nigeria still struggle to access essential health services.
“Too many lives are still lost to preventable maternal deaths. Too many adolescents and young people are denied the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
“GBV continues to undermine the dignity and potential of women and girls, and harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation persist.”
According to him, achieving universal access to SRHR, and fulfilling the ICPD promise requires a renewed commitment to action.
He added that in Nigeria, achieving the said goals would demand sustained investments in health systems and infrastructure and robust policy implementation that address root causes of inequality.
