Medical experts assert that maternal health services can be provided free of charge if the country prioritises maternal health. They argue that increased funding for family planning will reduce both maternal and infant mortality. At a one‑day summit organized by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists in Abuja, the experts emphasized that candidates seeking elective positions in the upcoming 2023 elections must place the health sector at the forefront and ensure free maternal health services for every woman of reproductive age. The summit, themed “Raising Voices for More Funding for Family Planning and Free Maternal Health Services by Incoming Political Leaders,” was supported by the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale and anchored by the Development Research and Projects Centre.
Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, President of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, stated that free maternal health services are achievable in Nigeria. He cited the Ondo State government under Governor Segun Mimiko, which spent about N6,500 per pregnant mother and saw a reduction in maternal mortality, demonstrating that the model is doable. “These are women producing the next generation. The government owes it to them,” he said, urging journalists to champion free maternal health services and to inform the incoming administration about the need for greater health sector funding, enhanced family planning, and improved maternal health services. “Health is a basic human right, and prioritising it will greatly reduce challenges in the sector,” Ladipo added. He noted that the government had pledged $4 million in counterpart funding for family planning but had not disbursed it, and suggested allocating $1 per woman of reproductive age to meet reproductive health needs. Ladipo also proposed alternative financing methods, such as indirect taxation, donations, or contributions from the aviation sector.
Dr. Ejike Orji, Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, called for increased funding for family planning, describing it as a patriotic concern for every Nigerian. He warned that inadequate funding could lead to maternal deaths and urged the government to recruit more midwives and offer competitive remuneration to secure their commitment. Orji emphasized that the Family Planning 2030 commitment—allocating one percent of the health budget to family planning—must be prioritised at all government levels. “Mechanisms exist to channel more money into family planning; it is merely a matter of implementation,” he said, noting that the basic healthcare provision fund is intended for primary healthcare, including family planning services, and that the necessary policies are already in place.
Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire highlighted the global recognition of family planning as a crucial strategy for preventing maternal morbidity and mortality. Represented at the summit by Deputy Director of Family Planning Logistics, Federal Ministry of Health, Ugochukwu Alex, Ehanire explained that many nations have leveraged family planning to achieve significant socio‑economic growth. Consequently, Nigeria has incorporated family planning into both the National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development and the National Development Plan, which are currently being implemented by the Federal Government.
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