By Alexander Chiejina, Nigeria Health Watch

Nigeria has made remarkable progress in family planning through initiatives such as the Health Sector Renewal Investment Program. However, experts emphasize that sustaining commitments for family planning commodities remains crucial to achieving FP2030 goals. At the second panel session of Plenary 12 at the Nigerian Family Planning Conference, key discussions were held on the need for long-term, sustainable strategies to ensure continued access to family planning services across Nigeria.

The panel highlighted that advancing toward FP2030 goals requires robust domestic funding, stronger supply chain systems, and multisectoral collaboration. The experts stressed that these steps are essential for achieving equitable access to family planning services nationwide. Ms. Chidinma Eneze, Regional Health Financing Advisor at Options Consultancy Services Ltd., expertly moderated the discussion, underlining the critical role of strategic planning.

In the final panel session, “Health Financing: Improving Funding for SRH/FP in Nigeria,” experts discussed the importance of adequate funding for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, stressing that addressing funding gaps is vital for ensuring long-term progress and equitable access.

The key takeaway is that achieving FP2030 goals will require collective action at all levels, with the federal government leading by example and state governments aligning their efforts to bridge funding gaps. Collaboration across sectors is essential to provide every individual with the tools to plan their families and improve health outcomes.

Stay tuned for more community-driven, community-inspired reporting from the 8th Nigerian Family Planning Conference, taking place December 3–6, 2024.