FG reaffirms commitment to inclusive family planning

Some stakeholders at the close-out ceremony in Abuja. Credit: Lara Adejoro

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The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable, inclusive family planning and equitable healthcare services on Thursday, aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

The FG made the commitment in Abuja at the close-out ceremony of the Inclusive Family Planning (IFPLAN) project.

The five-year IFPLAN project, funded by UK Aid and implemented by a consortium led by Sightsavers, included other partners such as BBC Media Action, the Programme for Evidence to Inform Disability Action, the Network of Women with Disabilities, and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities.

It was designed to increase knowledge and uptake of family planning among people with disabilities while strengthening service providers and disability organisations to support an inclusive health system.

Over its implementation period, the project reached 1,912 people with disabilities in 18 communities through social and behaviour-change interventions; provided family planning information to 544,759 people with disabilities via radio, digital platforms, and community engagement; reached 3,002,265 people without disabilities with stigma-reduction messages; conducted accessibility audits in 24 health facilities; supported 23 facilities with accessibility upgrades; and trained 1,500 healthcare providers, among other achievements.

The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim-Anas, described the initiative as a model for disability inclusion and a key contributor to the Federal Government’s Renewed Health Agenda.

Represented by Dr Fatima Jibrilla, she commended the project’s partners for what she described as a powerful demonstration of inclusive development.

She said, “The main achievement of the IFPLAN project is not just a technical milestone; it is proof of inclusive development and a great example of what we can accomplish when we commit to leaving no one behind. This project’s success aligns perfectly with the Renewed Health Agenda of this administration.

“Our goal is clear: to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or physical ability, has equal access to healthcare services. The Renewed Health Agenda builds the health of our women and girls not merely as a clinical issue but as a direct practice for national development and economic prosperity. Family planning in this context is not an afterthought; it is a critical, prospective pillar of our public health strategy.

“We acknowledge the complex needs of modern contraceptive use, and we must actively expand our coverage based on what we know is achievable, ensuring that we meet all the contraceptive needs of women, regardless of their socioeconomic or ability status. The IFPLAN project has offered us invaluable lessons, proving that inclusive and tailored approaches are necessary.”

She stated that there is a need to dismantle barriers to access by addressing the physical, attitudinal, and communication obstacles preventing persons with disabilities from accessing essential services.

“The success in Kaduna State shows that targeted training of health workers and the provision of accessible information can bridge this gap. We must also institutionalise value by ensuring that sustainability plans being discussed today move beyond paper,” she added.

She urged that sustainability plans guide the government’s transition into a long-term effort to scale the project’s lessons nationwide.

The Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Prof Joy Shuaibu, emphasised that the IFPLAN project proved that intentional inclusion creates real impact for women and girls with disabilities.

Prof Shuaibu highlighted that empowering healthcare workers with the right knowledge was one of the most sustainable investments of the project.

“When you empower someone with education and knowledge, it stays with them forever. We wanted to ensure that healthcare providers are comfortable providing services for persons with disabilities. One of the things we did on this project was to provide knowledge to ensure they know what to do,” she noted.

She also stressed that the next phase must focus on institutionalising disability inclusion in health policies and ensuring that persons with disabilities remain actively involved in shaping future programmes.

“What we have tried to demonstrate is that inclusive programming, especially in terms of sexual and reproductive healthcare, is possible. I want to guarantee you that if you need any technical support, please come to us; we will be willing to share. Ultimately, we want to create a society where persons with disabilities have equal access to healthcare, education, and livelihood,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Isa, described the project as a transformational intervention that expanded reproductive health access for women and girls with disabilities across Kaduna State.

Represented by the Director of Media and Communications, Lanre Oloyede, Isa emphasised the need for stronger government coordination in future disability-focused projects. He reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate strategically with development partners as efforts shift toward expanding disability-inclusive family planning nationwide.

“Let us continue to push for a Nigeria where no woman, no girl, and no person with a disability is denied the right to make informed choices about their own body and future,” he said.

The Commissioner of Health in Kaduna State, Umma Ahmed, noted that the project has brought hope and tangible progress to countless families by ensuring persons with disabilities have equitable access to family planning services.

She said the impact of the project will remain a cornerstone in the collective journey toward Universal Health Coverage.

“I want to emphasise the unwavering commitment of Governor Sani Uba, who has consistently championed inclusive governance and people-centred development. Under his leadership, Kaduna State has prioritised health reforms, expanded access to primary healthcare, and strengthened partnerships with development agencies.

“In Kaduna State, we firmly believe that no citizen should be left behind, regardless of ability or circumstances. His Excellency’s administration has demonstrated this. Through increased budgetary allocations to health, we have been able to sustain the 15 per cent accrued during our budget period for the health sector.

“For us, there is no close-out. We have made provision in the 2026 budget, so there is a budget line for this project. This shows the commitment of our governor to sustain inclusion in our state, support disability inclusion policies, make health services accessible to all, strengthen family planning initiatives, and recognise their role in reducing maternal mortality and empowering families,” she emphasised.

The PUNCH journalist, Lara, has over 10 years experience covering health, environment and CSOs

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