AHBN Petitions Health Minister, Pate, Over Stockout Of Family Planning Commodities
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has called on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, to take swift action to address the critical challenges of Family planning funding gaps and commodities stockout across the nation.
According to a statement issued by the organisation on Monday, the National Health Logistic Management Information System (LHMIS) and Demographic Health Information System (DHIS) reported stockout of Family planning commodities in 24 states with those in the north west and north central bearing the brunt.
The AHBN informed that the negative impact of 2026 funding gap for the procurement of contraceptives were 2.3 million unintended pregnancies, about 241,000 unsafe abortions, 14,000 maternal deaths and about 280 million unattained health savings.
These, they noted had led to reversal of progress such as stockout at levels of supply chain, also, service providers throughout the nation will not provide family planning services to sustain the gains made over the years.
The statement advised that predictable financing was the only remedy for Nigeria to remain on track toward achieving its national target of a modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) of 27.5% by 2030.
They stressed that timely release of the pledged funds would demonstrate continued government leadership and commitment to improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
They added that Nigeria was currently facing a substantial funding gap for Family Planning commodities. If the Federal Government releases its pledged contribution, the national funding gap would reduce to 69%. Without this release, the gap widens to 80%, further exacerbating supply constraints and increasing the risk of prolonged stockouts nationwide.
“Sustained and predictable financing is essential for Nigeria to remain on track toward achieving its national target of a modern Contraceptive Prevalence”, AHBN said.
They therefore urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency;
fulfill the 2026 government commitment as an approved budget including the budget line to unlock UNFPA Match fund to the tune of USD4.5million and Primary Health Care funding to the tune of USD5million in line with the 2.1 disbursement link indicator of the World Bank and Nigerian Government HOPE agreement.
They also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance to sign the Annex A of the UNFPA Supplies Partnership Compact of Commitments to unlock UNFPA Match fund to the tune of USD4.5million.
Additionally, they urged the government to commit to move the National Family Planning budget line to a service-wide vote component of the appropriation act to ensure reliable funding and sustainability. Ensure sustainability and effective implementation of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain (PVAC) on local production of FP/SRH commodities and timely release of the earmarked Medical Relief Fund for family planning.
They further called on the 36 state governments plus Federal Capital Territory to;
Create dedicated budget lines and prompt release of a minimum of 1% of the annual state health budgets to support Family Planning programmes in line with the Nigeria FP2030 commitments.
Implement key recommendations from National Guidelines for State-Funded Procurement of FP commodities procurement and last mile distribution.
In a passionate appeal, Coordinator of the AHBN, Dr. Aminu Garba said, “I call on the Nigerian government to take advantage of the opportunity to benefit from UNFPA Match fund to the tune of USD4.5million and Primary Health Care funding to the tune of USD5million in line with the 2.1 disbursement link indicator of the Worlds Bank and Nigerian Government HOPE agreement, so that Nigerian women can have access to family planning commodities to improve their lives and promote health living”.
