As Nigeria joins the global community in observing Safe Motherhood Week, a spotlight will be placed on the crucial intersection of family planning and maternal health in safeguarding the well-being of mothers and their children across the nation.
With the theme “Empowering Women through Family Planning and Maternal Health,” Nigerians have been called upon to prioritise accessible healthcare services for all Nigerian women.
DevCom/TCI said this day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of prioritising family planning in order to safeguard maternal health and the need for sustainable investments to ensure the well-being of mother and child.
In a press release signed by Mrs. Omobunike Adebayo and made available to Tribune Online, National Safe Motherhood Day primarily focuses on ensuring all women receive the care they need to be safe throughout their pregnancy.
One of the major objectives of the national Safe Motherhood Initiative programme is to improve quality and increase accessibility to family planning and maternal healthcare services for all women of childbearing age.
“Despite progress made in maternal healthcare, Nigeria continues to face challenges in reducing maternal mortality rates and ensuring universal access to family planning services.”.
The state noted that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the country accounted for approximately 20% of global maternal deaths in 2017, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.
“Family planning plays a pivotal role in empowering Nigerian women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.”.
The statement further added that by expanding access to contraception and maternal care services, we can reduce the risks associated with unintended pregnancies, reduce maternal mortality rates, and enhance the overall maternal well-being of women.
Dr Taiwo Johnson, the Challenge Initiative team lead, noted that “family planning is the cornerstone of maternal health, offering women the autonomy to make informed choices about their reproductive futures.”.
Adding that “through accessible family planning services, we empower women to navigate their maternal journey with dignity and ensure safer outcomes for both mother and child,”
The Nigerian government’s commitment to the national safe motherhood initiative underscores its efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of maternal healthcare services for all Nigerian women of childbearing age.
However, these commitments are not evenly distributed across all levels of governance, stressing that “it is only through sustained strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure, capacity building, and community outreach programmes that the country can address the underlying determinants of maternal mortality and promote healthy pregnancies.”
DevComs Programme Director, Akin Jimoh, noted that “safe motherhood begins with empowering women to plan and space their pregnancies according to their health, economic, and social circumstances.”
Dr Jimoh said, “By prioritising family planning, we not only safeguard maternal health but also pave the way for stronger, healthier families and communities, contributing to a brighter future for all.”
Safe Motherhood is concerned with maintaining the health of the woman and her newborn throughout the pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and post-delivery period.
This Safe Motherhood Week, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to advancing family planning and maternal health in Nigeria.
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) promotes sustainability and local ownership while demonstrating the feasibility of long-term investment in reproductive health.
TCI has been scaling up the positive changes in reproductive health delivered through the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) since 2009.
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