Agency The Federal Government has said investing in family planning can significantly reduce maternal mortality by 30 per cent. The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, stated this during the National Symposium to commemorate 2024 World Population Day in Abuja on Friday. The event, which was co-organised by various CSOs, and supported by the Development Research and Project Centre, aimed at improving family planning services and healthcare access across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this year’s symposium themed, ‘Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All” was organised by the Population Association of Nigeria. World Population Day was established by the United Nations in 1989 to focus on global population issues. It is annually commemorated on July 11, across the globe to also raise awareness about demographic trends, growth projections and their impact on sustainable development.
Anas-Kolo emphasised the critical role that access to family planning services plays in improving maternal health outcomes, adding, “Family planning is more than a health service, it is a critical component of maternal and child health. “By allowing women to space and plan their pregnancies, family planning reduces the risk of complications that can arise from closely-spaced pregnancies.” She noted that the maternal mortality ratio, which measures the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live .