Bukola Afeni
The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria(HERFON) has kick started the Riseup Family Planning project to advocate for budget line for Family planning in the FCT.
Speaking at the orientation meeting with HERFON FCT chapter members.
The Executive Secretary Dr Celestine Okorie said there is no budget line for Family planning in the FCT.
He noted that there is need to strategize on implementing the 2030 Family Planning Policy document at the sub-national level, starting with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The policy recommends allocating 1% of the health budget for family planning services and commodities. While implemented at the federal level, the allocation remains absent at the state and local government levels”, he added.
He said resistance from policymakers poses a significant obstacle in budgetary allocation for family planning..
“We need advocacy and collective effort to push for this policy’s adoption, and overcome the challenges in the sexual and reproductive health sector”, he said.
HERFON Program Manager Dr Opeyemi Adeosun said the successful allocation of FP budget in the FCT will serve as a model for replication across Nigeria’s 36 states.
“If we can achieve this milestone in the FCT, we will have the momentum to drive change nationwide in terms of sexual and reproductive health”, he said.
He said the health body aim to ensure equal opportunities for all, particularly women, in accessing family planning services and commodities.
