An NGO in Nasarawa State, Community Link for Health and Family Planning Advocacy (CLHEPA), has appealed to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) to allocate 50 per cent of the 2020 budget for child birth spacing/family planning to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the state.
Mrs. Mary Ashenenya, chairperson of the NGO, made the appeal in Lafia when she paid an advocacy visit to the chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon Usman Labaran Shafa.
She said family planning is one of the key factors of achieving planned population growth, reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality, hence the need for 50 per cent budget allocation to child birth spacing in the state.
“This group is interested in the issue of child spacing/family planning in Nasarawa State. We are advocating for increased government budgetary allocation and intervention in child birth spacing/family planning.
“Our objective is to support key stakeholders for child spacing and family planning interventions. It is also to create awareness on the availability of family planning commodities and increased demand generation.
“This is to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, eliminating risks of abortion that women and girls are exposed to and improving their quality of lives,” she said.
She called on government to ensure timely release of family planning budget to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the state.
Responding Shafa commended the NGO for the visit.
Labaran Shafa, who is the APC member representing Toto/Gadabuke constituency, assured the group of the House’s readiness to continue to give the health sector the attention it deserves in the interest of the health of the people of the state.
“I will talk to other members of this committee and the entire House about your demand and I want to assure you of our partnership in that direction,” he said.
