•Why no woman should die giving birth
By Doris Obinna
In many developing countries, including Nigeria, high maternal mortality has remained on the front burner. While thousands of women died from avoidable causes, others suffered stillbirths or complications leading to infertility. Regrettably, about 70 per cent of these deaths occur among girls aged 18 years and below.
Although campaigns were carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), development partners and other child advocacy groups in collaboration with governments at both national and regional levels to encourage family planning and reduce the scourge, challenges persist. Corruption, poor funding, inadequate health workers, cultural and religious beliefs, as well as myths, remain major obstacles to the success of family planning programmes.
While several developing countries such as Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and China have recorded declines in maternal mortality, the same cannot be said of Nigeria and a number of others. Research attributes these declines to improvements in healthcare access, increased numbers of skilled medical staff, expanded access to crucial medicines and treatments, better family planning, and improved emergency obstetric care.
It is on record that Sierra Leone reduced its maternal death rate by nearly 75 per cent between 2000 and 2020, while Rwanda, a fellow African country, saw its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fall from 1,007 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2002 to 259 in 2020. In Asia, Sri Lanka reduced its maternal deaths from 500–600 per 100,000 live births in 1950 to just 60 per 100,000, a remarkable achievement.
Nepal cut its maternal deaths by more than 50 per cent after implementing a national health policy in 1991 that focused on improving maternal health, while China also achieved significant reductions by expanding the coverage and quality of its health services.
Although these countries have achieved milestones in reducing pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths, many others still lag behind. In light of this, the initiative Made Possible by Family Planning (FP2030) has unveiled a plan to raise $1 billion across 70 countries to help combat maternal mortality.
The organisation has scheduled an international conference for November this year in Bogotá, the Colombian capital, to strategise on achieving this goal. While the target may appear daunting, Chair, Nigeria Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Focal Point FP2030, Dr Ejike Oji, insists it is achievable.
Explaining further, he said: “Initially, there were 69 countries, but by 2012 the number grew to 70, and the initiative changed its name from FP2020 to FP2030 to reflect the extended timeline for achieving its goals. When the group was formed, the aim was to ensure that between 2012 and 2020, an additional 120 million women and girls would have access to rights-based family planning services. Later, it was rebranded as FP2030 to make sure the target is ultimately reached.
“To demonstrate commitment, the initiative established an international body with regional hubs. Africa alone has two hubs; North Central and Northwestern, alongside Southern and Eastern offices. They also have a Southeast Asia office, and in Nigeria, I serve as the Civil Society Focal Point.”
On Nigeria’s contribution, Dr. Oji explained that each country, based on its resources, made commitments. Nigeria pledged to increase its modern contraceptive prevalence rate (MCPR) from 12 percent to 27 percent by 2030. According to him, the most important element of FP2030 is its mutual accountability framework. “The issue is mutual accountability. It is not about blaming government alone; civil society also has responsibilities. Donors, individuals, and communities all have roles to play to ensure this goal is achieved.”
He added that strategy is key to convincing people to contribute. “If the Nigerian government can set aside $4 million annually to support family planning, that would amount to $20 million over four years. Multiplying $20 million by the 70 participating countries gives $1.4 billion already exceeding the $1 billion target.
“For context, this year the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) allocated N60 million to family planning, which may appear small, but about 97 percent of funding currently comes from external sources. Additionally, $6 million was allocated to the National Primary Health Care system, and another N5.7 billion to the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). Combined, these already surpass the $4 million annual benchmark.” According to him, if Nigeria continues in this manner, it will make its fair contribution toward the $1 billion target.
Resource mobilisation
The family planning advocate stressed that Nigeria must stop leaving its strategic interests in the hands of foreigners. Domestic resource mobilisation, he argued, should be made a legal requirement, with guidelines compelling state governments to contribute. “Encouragingly, four or five states have already done so.”
However, the challenge of accountability and judicious use of funds remains, given Nigeria’s governance realities. Dr. Oji believes the media must play a leading role in tracking and reporting allocations. He urged journalists to raise “one million voices,” leveraging their reach to mobilise communities, while also calling on religious, community, and opinion leaders to join the campaign.
He appealed to members of the National Assembly to prioritise resource appropriation for family planning. “I met with my constituency representative, who pledged to convene a meeting with three other subcommittee chairmen to ensure Parliament becomes a strong voice in the cause.”
Oji emphasised that with 80 per cent of primary health centres located in local government areas, the recent financial autonomy granted to LGAs should enable them to contribute meaningfully to family planning programmes.
FP, catalyst for national development
Youth Partnership Manager at FP2030 Northwestern Central Africa, Margret Bolaji, highlighted that Made Possible; a campaign by FP2030 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to reframe family planning as more than a health issue.
“Family planning has too often been reduced to a conversation about commodities alone. Yes, it is about commodities, but it is also about so much more. It allows girls and women to return to school, enables parents to raise healthier children, and helps women stay healthy while continuing their careers.”
She explained that the campaign aims to bring fresh voices into the conversation, extending beyond health to include sectors such as fashion, media, finance, and sports. “Family planning is not just a women’s issue or a health issue, it is everybody’s issue,” she stressed.
“One of the boldest aspects of the campaign is its goal to raise $1 billion globally to support family planning initiatives. With donor funding shrinking, governments, philanthropists, and the private sector are being urged to step up. In Nigeria, FP2030 is calling on the government to commit at least one percent of its health budget to family planning and, crucially, to ensure the funds are released.
“For Nigeria, the stakes are high. The country faces a significant unmet need for family planning, with a contraceptive prevalence rate of only about 17 percent. FP2030 aims to increase this to 27 percent by 2030, a goal that could transform health, education, and the economy.”
Accountability, cross-sector collaboration
Bolaji stressed the importance of accountability. “Civil society organisations must hold all levels of government accountable for releasing funds. Furthermore, ministries such as Education, Health, Youth and Sports, and Budget and Planning must collaborate to avoid duplication and ensure efficient use of resources.
“The campaign’s next milestone will be the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá this November, where global stakeholders will share commitments and chart the path to 2030.”
Bolaji described the event as a chance to build momentum: “Every new commitment, every new voice, every dollar raised brings us closer to making family planning a social norm that saves lives, strengthens economies, and empowers women.
“At its core, Made Possible is about amplifying the stories of young women able to finish school, families raising healthier children, and communities thriving because women can make informed reproductive choices.
“We want to walk into a fashion show and hear conversations about family planning. We want to see it represented in sports, finance, and engineering. That’s when we’ll know the campaign is working.”
She concluded by noting that FP2030 is not just about raising money but also about changing perceptions and sparking action. “Family planning remains one of the smartest investments any society can make, and with the Made Possible campaign, we are determined to show the world just how much is possible when family planning is prioritised.”
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