The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) on Thursday hinted that the HIV prevalance rate in the country has dropped from5.8% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2019.
The OIC UNFPA, Nigeria/Deputy Regional Director, WCARO, Dr. Mamadou Kante made this disclosure on Thursday at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Meeting on the National preparation for the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25.
The aim of the meeting according to him is to raise an awareness on Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 coming up in Nairobi the Kenyan capital later in the year.
Setting an agenda for the meeting, Kante told the stakeholders at the meeting that a draft commitment which is a product of UNFPA consultation with different stakeholders in the country has been put together for their inputs and guidance.
He said that the move was part of the preparation towards the anniversary of UNFPA at 50 and ICPD at 25 coupled with other activities lined up for the summit.
He said, “Am delighted to inform you that In pursuit of the Cairo summit, Nigeria has made some gains. According to available statistics from UNFPA, the HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria has dropped from 5.8% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2019,”
He added, “Also, in 1994, only about 4% of married couple use modern contraceptive in 1990. Today, 12% do.
“In the same vein, make need for family planning among currently married was 22% in 1990 and in 1998, it was 19%.
“Maternal mortality ratio has dropped slowly from 1,500 per 100,000 in 1999 to 576 in 2014 among other statistical indicators.
On the Cairo commitment, Kante noted that despite the success recorded by Nigeria, it still has a long way to go to claim to have lived up to the commitment pledged in Cairo.
He insisted that the target of the unfinished businesses of ICPD programme of action is to bring available indicators regarding its aspirations to zero by 2030.
He was quoted as saying: “According to him, the target of the unfinished businesses of ICPD programme of action is to bring available indicators regarding its aspirations to zero by 2030.
“Especially the three zeros: Zero maternal death, zero Unmet needs for family planning and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Explaining the country’s preparedness for the Nairobi summit on ICPD 25, he added: “Accelerating the promises all stakeholders interested in the pursuits of its set objectives would come together with a common purpose to commit to finally implement the four ICPD programme of action.
“You would recall that at ICPD in Cairo, back in 1994, what began as a discussion about population target shift and put the needs on aspirations of human being as the central of sustainable development.
“179 governments including Nigeria adopts the visionary programme of action and agree that putting people first, empowering women, enabling or prepare to freely decide the timing and spacing of their pregnancy would clear the way to sustainable development,” he added.
According to Kante, the summit which focuses the 25th anniversary on the ICPD programme of action is to celebrate gains, advance progress re-commit to fulfil the Cairo promise, adding that it will translate into inclusive commitment that will accelerate the Cairo commitments.
While reeling out the summit objectives at the meeting, the FP/RHCS Specialist, UNFPA, Dr. Joachim Chijide explained that although Nigeria has made some progress, saying there is need to access how far the country has gone compare to other countries globally.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) strives to deliver a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Guided by the Programme of Action adopted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the Millennium Development Goals, the Fund works with governments, other United Nations agencies, to make a real difference to millions of people, especially the most vulnerable globally.
