Family planning crucial to national development, says VP

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with a delegation from the Family Planning (FP) 2020 Reference Group who paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa.

The delegation led by the newly appointed Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem, visited the Vice President on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.

Kanem succeeded the late Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin as head of the UNFPA.

In his remarks, Prof. Osinbajo expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to create more awareness on proper family planning in the country as it was crucial to national development.

He further said through its initiatives, the Buhari administration will continue to support the legacy of Osotimehin, who was a strong advocate for public health and the rights of women and girls.

The FP 2020 Reference Group targets that 120 million more women and girls in about 69 countries, including Nigeria, have access to voluntary family planning information, services and contraceptives by the year 2020.

Also in the delegation are President of the Global Development Programme of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias, had other officials from the UNFPA, USAID, DFID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In attendance were the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, and the Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed.