Nation
Family Planning: Nigeria Has 15.1% Unmet Need-UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Ulla Mueller, says the country has 15.1 per cent unmet need for family planning.
Mueller disclosed this in Abuja at NAN Forum, the flagship interview programme of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to her, 15.1 per cent of Nigerian women and girls who want Family Planning services do not have access to it due many reasons.
“We have an unmet need in Nigeria which is 15.1 per cent. That basically means that 15.1 per cent of women between 15 and 40 want to access contraception, but are denied access.
“ In numbers, that is about four million women who want it right now as you and I sit, want to access contraception and have no access,” she said.
Mueller said UNFPA needed to work more in partnership with development partners in ensuring commodity security.
According to her, a national commodity basket is being supported by UNFPA with focus on ensuring availability.
She added that the emphasis is in making sure the supply chain works using the short term or long term methods.
“ That is one of the most critical things that needs to be available for women.
“So if they access services, they can actually get the method of choice. We are also working to build capacity of healthcare workers,” she said.
She also said Nigeria’s Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (MCPR) and Traditional Contraceptives Prevalence Rate (TCPR), which stood at 12 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, were very low and a major concern to UNFPA.
Mueller, who called for advocacy for more women’s access to family planning commodity basket, however, congratulated many of the states on their access.
‘We also have more and more states now using the basket. so I think some of the achievements is really the FP 20 commitment.
“It is really accessibility, availability and informing women that they have a right to choice,” she said.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
