UNFPA Boosts Nigeria’s Reproductive Health Programmes With $75m

The United Nations Popu
lation Fund (UNFPA) says it has earmarked $75 million to boost reproductive health services and data generation in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of UNFPA,  Prof Babatunde Osotimehin disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja last Sunday.
He explained that the amount covers the value of the seventh UNFPA Country Programme between 2014 and 2017 in Nigeria.
He said  however that the figure budgeted would be sourced from the core funding of $29.2 million, while the non-core source would contribute $45.8 million.
While noting that  UNFPA has been in Nigeria since its inception in 1969, participating in numerous activities in the country,  Osotimetun said the fund has always been working with the Nigerian formations, either regions or states; as well as  Civil Society Organisations.
He said “What we do in essence is to work with government to ensure that women and girls’ lives are cherished so they go to school and stay in school.
“So that women, when they are ready can have their children safely and also space their birth, to ensure they don’t die giving birth.
“And they can have the number of children they can afford to have without any issue or coercion; these are the things we do.”
The executive director said UNFPA also collaborate with government to conduct census,  stating that the data generated assist government in its projections and planning.
He said presently, the Fund is discussing with the National Population Commission on the 2016 national headcount.
Osotimehin said the greatest cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria is the one that happen with young girls, which constitutes between 30 and 40 per cent of the burden.
“We encourage women to take family planning; it enables them to take control of their lives.
“When you talk to women and ask them, they will tell you I have six children, but if I had the choice I would rather have three or four.
“The problem always is that they don’t have the opportunity to make such choices, the choices can be made if they have access to the commodities,” said the UNFPA boss.
He said Fund ensure that women who want to space their birth and have the number of children they want access to these services.
He  revealed that  in recent years with insurgency, the Fund worked in North East to provide assistance to in capacity building to government and civil society organisations on issues of the communities.
According to him, “it is beyond women and children who are the target of our,  fund it is about communities who suffered tremendously from the insurgency.
According to him, “Many communities have been totally vanquished, we needed to work with these communities to enable them revive themselves.
“With the return of members of these communities, we will ensure that the communities have prepared to have them back; we will also give them assistance to enable them reintegrate with the society,” he said.
Osotimehin said UNFPA is into partnership with four UN agencies to support the Safe School Initiative, adding that the fund provides psycho-social support, counseling and girl-child education.

Assorted drugs and medicaments donated to Mobile Police Force in Sokoto and the Wajakke Community in Wamakko Local Government Area by the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Sokotoin, Sokoto