<\/p>\n
By Ikenna Osuoha<\/p>\n
Ms Ulla Mueller, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative in Nigeria, says the country has 15.1 per cent unmet need for family planning.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mueller disclosed this in Abuja at NAN Forum, the flagship interview programme of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to her, 15.1 per cent of Nigerian women and girls who want Family Planning services do not have access to it due many reasons.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an unmet need in Nigeria which is 15.1 per cent. That basically means that 15.1 per cent of women between 15 and 40 want to access contraception, but are denied access.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201d In numbers, that is about four million women who want it right now as you and I sit, want to access contraception and have no access,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mueller said UNFPA needs to work more\u00a0in partnership with development partners in ensuring commodity security.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to her,\u00a0a national commodity basket is being supported by UNFPA with focus on ensuring availability.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She added that the emphasis is in making sure the supply chain works using the short term or long term methods.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“That is one of the most critical things that needs to be available for women.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if they access services, they can actually get the method of choice. We are also working to build capacity of healthcare workers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She added that Nigeria\u2019s Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (MCPR) and Traditional Contraceptives Prevalence Rate (TCPR), which stood at 12 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, were very low and a major concern to UNFPA.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"context.image.src\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t