FG, EU, UNICEF, others partner to expand adolescent, reproductive health services across Nigeria
By Mahmood Olayinka Alaya
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening access to reproductive and adolescent health services in Nigeria, aiming to create a more effective and equitable healthcare system for all citizens.
Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, made this known on Tuesday during the opening of a two-day National Steering Committee Meeting for the EU-SARAH (European Union – Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health) initiative in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The event brought together stakeholders from the European Union, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Federal Ministry of Health, and health officials from Sokoto, Adamawa, and Kwara States, collectively known as the SAK states where the program is currently being implemented.
Represented by the Director and Head of Gender, Adolescent, School Health, and Elderly Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. John Ovuoraye,the Minister outlined the ministry’s four-point agenda of improving governance, population health outcomes, the healthcare value chain, and health security.
Professor Pate said these priorities are designed to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system and reduce maternal mortality, especially in the SAK states.
The Minister commended the European Union for its vital support, while also recognizing UNICEF for its continued leadership in health and child-focused initiatives in Nigeria.
In her welcome address, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, praised the life-saving impact of the EU-SARAH initiative, saying that women, girls, and children are still facing challenges in accessing quality healthcare services, despite notable improvements.
“Reproductive and adolescent health is a cornerstone of public health, yet many women and adolescents still face significant barriers to accessing essential services,” she said.
Dr. El-Imam noted that Kwara has made substantial progress, including a reduction in under-five mortality from 74 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 14 per 1,000 in 2023.
She credited the state’s success to effective interventions under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and strong collaboration with international partners such as UNICEF.
Despite the progress, the commissioner acknowledged the continued threat of preventable maternal and child deaths and called for intensified efforts to address the root causes.
She reaffirmed Kwara State Government’s dedication to the EU-SARAH initiative, emphasizing its alignment with the state’s goal of improving health outcomes for all, particularly women and children.
UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, Dr. Fatimah Gohar, reiterated the agency’s support for the initiative, emphasizing its role in closing systemic gaps in reproductive and adolescent health, particularly in underserved areas.
Similarly, head of the UNFPA Lagos office, Abbigail Msemburi, reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services across Nigeria.
Health representatives from Sokoto and Adamawa States described the EU-SARAH initiative as crucial to addressing their states’ high maternal and infant mortality rates.
Speaking on behalf of young Nigerians, Speaker of the Kwara State Children’s Parliament, Hon. Fauziya Alaaya, called for increased youth involvement in shaping health policies, describing the EU-SARAH initiative as a movement for dignity, equity, and the future of Nigeria’s next generation.
“We are not just beneficiaries of these interventions, we are partners. We have voices that need to be amplified,” she said.
The Speaker therefore urged stakeholders to create lasting platforms for youth participation in health policy and implementation.
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