Nigeria targets domestic funding and male involvement for family planning

Organizers of the 9th Nigeria Family Planning Conference are advocating for increased domestic funding and stronger partnerships to address declining donor support and unmet reproductive health needs. Dr. Ejike Oji, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), stated that the conference, scheduled for November 30 to December 4 in Abuja, aims to serve as a turning point for domestic resource mobilization.

The conference seeks to foster collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as public-private and intergovernmental partnerships. Regional entities like the West African Health Organisation and representatives from the UN Population Fund are expected to participate. Organizers are also developing mechanisms to track the implementation of conference resolutions.

In Bauchi State, stakeholders are emphasizing the importance of male involvement in family planning to improve reproductive health outcomes. Through the ASPIRE Project, implemented by Plan International Nigeria, advocates are calling for increased government budgetary allocations for family planning interventions. They stress the need for improved access to information, counseling, and commodities, particularly for underserved communities, while working to address misconceptions through community engagement.