Leveraging over 25 years of project experience and funded by clubs and districts from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Nigeria, the Nationwide Family Planning Campaign in Nigeria is the most ambitious RFPD-supported project to date. The goal is a broad improvement in the access to professional family planning services in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including a sustainable strengthening of the Nigerian health system.
Since 2018, doctors, nurses and midwives receive training in modern methods of family planning, quality assurance and stock management; community dialogues are being organized to raise awareness about family planning; and a large-scale media campaign is being introduced nationally. The project is supported by a web-based databank, integrating approaches to Obstetric Quality Assurance (OQA) and Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response (MPDSR). This digital system facilitates the remote collection and analysis of data on several scales – hospital, community, state and federal – facilitating the development of evidence-based responses.
In addition to supporting the human right of access to family planning services – and empowering women and families through microcredit among other efforts – this project will help mitigate the effects of rapid population growth and will have a positive effect on the economy. As demonstrated globally, the decline in unplanned births resulting from family planning promotion fosters macroeconomic growth through the initiation of the Demographic Dividend. A significant contribution will be made to the national goal of a 36% contraceptive prevalence rate and to Rotary’s Area of Focus “Maternal and child health”.
RFPD efforts to support this campaign in Nigeria have been well-received by many traditional and political leaders who see rapid population growth as a threat to both security and prosperity. It has also been celebrated by local women and medical professionals for the positive developments observed in contraceptive access and services. We look forward to continuing progress on our mission to improve access to quality family planning services and reduce the burden of high maternal and child mortality in the country.
Photo Credit: RFPD by Daniel Kempf-Seifried
Key Data
Large-scale project, sponsored by Districts and Clubs from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Nigeria
Global grants: 1979418 & 1980855
Host: District 9125 (Nigeria)
International partner: District 1860 (Germany)
Objectives: 1) Promotion of family planning services, 2) Capacity building in the health sector
Project Area: All 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Time frame: 2018 – 2022
Budget: Up to $3 Million - co-financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Partners: Federal Ministry of Health (Abuja), SOGON - Society of Gynaecology & Obstetrics of Nigeria (Abuja), UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund (Abuja), Population Council (Washington), Population Media Center (Vermont)
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Contribution: 3.1, 3.2, 3.7, 4.4, 5.6 |
