In order to assist lower the number of maternal fatalities in Nigeria, experts have asked stakeholders and the Federal Government to offer free pregnancy care and make contraceptives available to all Nigerian women.

At the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria’s first Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Summit in Abuja on Thursday, under the subject “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose,” they made this request.

The conference was convened to honour the 2024 World Contraception Day and International Safe Abortion Day.

Every year on September 26, World Contraception Day is marked to raise awareness of the value of family planning and contraception. On September 28, International Safe Abortion Day is observed to raise awareness of the importance of access to safe abortion care for women’s and girls’ health and rights.

Professor Rosemary Ogu, the National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, stressed the necessity for the Federal Government to expand financing for reproductive health and provide access to contraceptives.
“The goal of contraception is to keep women from dying, to support their educational goals, and to help adults realise their full potential,” the woman stated.

She emphasised that access to family planning resources is severely limited in rural areas, which raises the rate of maternal death.

“There is a demographic bulge in Nigeria. Nigeria has the potential to become the world’s greatest country if we are all well, Ogu continued.

Maternal mortality in Nigeria is largely caused by a lack of access to safe abortion services and contraception, according to Lucky Palmer, the Country Director of the Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation.

At the moment, Nigeria accounts for roughly 28% of maternal deaths worldwide. It is the highest point on Earth. When a woman or two passes away due to problems during pregnancy, there are severe repercussions in many nations. However, in Nigeria, we don’t question it because it has become the standard. This isn’t how things should be.

To halt it, we have to take every reasonable action. Women can spread out their pregnancies and heal completely before getting pregnant again with the use of contraception. This increases both the safety and enjoyment of being pregnant.

Palmer stated, “Abortion is a medical issue and should be treated as such. It is not a moral issue.”

Despite a 40% decrease in maternal death over the previous eight years, Nigeria continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, according to Dr. Ejike Orji, Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning.

He voiced concern about the fact that girls under the age of fifteen make up 70% of those impacted.

Family planning initiatives have always been supported by donations, but Dr. Orji pointed out that the present administration has already provided $4 million, and donors have contributed an extra $6 million.

Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi, the board chair of the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria, emphasised the significance of providing young Nigerians, especially those who are pregnant, with access to healthcare in order to lower the nation’s maternal mortality rate.

Modern contraceptive prevalence and maternal mortality ratios are important measures of a nation’s development, according to Omo-Obi. Maternal mortality rises as the prevalence of contraception declines in the absence of contraceptives.

The essential necessity for Nigeria and Nigerians to progress talks and guarantee that contraceptive treatments are provided and accessible to everyone when needed is brought to light by commemorating these days.

It is our goal that every kid, woman, boy, and girl will be able to exercise their fundamental right to procreate voluntarily rather than by accident. Only with access to contraception is this possible.