Closing Reproductive Health Gaps: An SRHR Policy Dialogue

Speakers of Panel I, who Discussed Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

Shades of Us attended the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policy Dialogue hosted by Nigeria Health Watch with support from Organon on July 3, 2025. The theme, Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access, was an important conversation focused on the gaps in SRHR information and service delivery with global funding cuts and the need for more innovative approaches for sustainability. 

Vivianne Ihekweazu, the Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, opened the event with a succinct description of the gaps in SRHR in Nigeria. “Over the years, we have spoken often about the challenges facing sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria. Nigeria’s story on SRHR is complex. We have policy frameworks, national strategies, and global commitments. Yet despite this, too many people especially young people, rural women and girls, and underserved communities, do not have access to basic reproductive health services and commodities. We cannot talk about achieving Universal Health Coverage, or SDGs 3 and 5 while overlooking the reality that access to contraception, maternal and newborn care, safe abortion services, STI treatment, and sexual health education remains inconsistent, underfunded, and out of reach for millions of Nigerians.”

Data from the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2023–24) tells us modern contraceptive prevalence is still only 15.3% (CPR is 20.3%) among women aged 15–49, while the unmet need for family planning for this same group is 21%. As Vivianne shared, “This is a reflection of the failure of our health system.”

With Nigeria projected to have a population of approximately 377 million people, making it the third most populous country in the world, the contraceptive prevalence rate is not just data but a forewarning of what the future holds for Nigeria if we do not make different decisions soon. This is why this dialogue on closing the reproductive health gaps is critical in today's climate.

“We cannot talk about closing reproductive health impact gaps without confronting this funding crisis head-on. Without resources, policies remain promises. Without commodities, services become empty. And without accountability, the most vulnerable young people, rural women, those already left behind will bear the heaviest cost.” Vivianne emphasized.

The Keynote Speech at this event was presented by Dr Binyeremi Ukaire, the Director of the Department of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Like Vivianne, she emphasized why we must focus on addressing the underlying and overt issues around SRHR in Nigeria if we are to make any progress as a nation. 

The event had two panel sessions that highlighted the urgent need to move beyond policy formulation to real, sustained action in delivering SRHR services in Nigeria: 

• Addressing Policy Implementation and Funding Gaps for SRHR Impact with Dr. Binyeremi Ukaire, Director, Department of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Dr Tomi Coker, Commissioner of Health, Ogun State; Mal. Ghali Dambazzau Talle, Assistant Director, Education for Health and Wellbeing, Ministry Of Education; Pharm. Aminu Bashir, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kano State; and Dr Taiwo Johnson, Director, The Challenge Initiative

• Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Services Delivery in Nigeria with Dr Fatima Bunza, Country Director, Tiko; Peace Umanah, Director of Communications, International Youth Alliance for Family Planning; Margaret Bolaji, Youth Partnerships Manager, Nort, West and Central Africa Hub, FP 2030; Mokgadi Mashishi, Africa Access Lead, Organon; and Testimony Adetemi, Marketing Lead, Healthtracka.

The sessions brought together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector, offering diverse perspectives on the gaps that remain — and the bold steps being taken to close them.

Panel I: Addressing Policy Implementation and Funding Gaps for SRHR Impact

The session opened with Dr. Tomi Coker, Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, who described Ogun's strides in funding and implementing family planning (FP) services. Through co-funding arrangements with The Challenge Initiative (TCI) and smart use of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), Ogun has managed to provide free FP commodities to women and reduce reliance on donors. “Sustainability isn’t an issue in Ogun State,” she said confidently. “We are pretty much self-reliant.”

At the federal level, Dr. Binyeremi Ukaire, Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the role of strong coordination and capacity building. She cited programs like the Sector Wide Approach and the upcoming Hope Primary Healthcare (PHC) Project, designed to prevent stockouts and ensure that policies move from paper to practice. “We must stop playing ostrich,” she urged, “and address the issues head-on.”

Mal. Ghali Dambazzau Talle, from the Ministry of Education, underscored the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in schools, guided by national policy and supported by UBEC. However, he acknowledged persistent cultural resistance around discussing SRHR commodities like condoms. “Civil society must support the government where it has limitations,” he added.

From Kano State, Pharm. Aminu Bashir highlighted encouraging developments: a health trust fund, a dedicated FP budget line, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Still, gaps remain. “We have commodities,” he noted, “but no consumers due to misinformation.” Engaging traditional and religious leaders is critical to addressing cultural barriers.

Dr. Taiwo Johnson of TCI reinforced the need to increase domestic funding and shift perspectives. “Family planning is not just spending,” she said. “It is an investment.” She shared how their “business unusual” model supports states until they can stand on their own, celebrating the growing number of states now budgeting for FP independently.

Panel II: Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria

The second panel shifted the focus to young people, the largest demographic group in Nigeria and the most underserved in SRHR conversations.

Dr. Fatima Bunza, Country Director at Tiko, spoke about the transformative role of technology in bridging access gaps. “With tech, girls can access information privately, compare sources, and locate youth-friendly services,” she said. For girls in remote areas, Tiko carts and trained mobilizers bring information directly to them, creating safe, inclusive spaces.

Peace Umanah, Director of Communications at the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), reminded us why IYAFP exists: “Young people were not being included in SRHR policy discussions.” She called for a shift toward storytelling and advocacy rooted in real, local experiences to influence funders and policymakers.

Representing FP2030, Margaret Bolaji emphasized the need for meaningful youth engagement. “Tokenism isn’t enough,” she stated. “Young people must be involved in design, implementation, and accountability. Every interaction with an adolescent is a chance to transform their future.”

From the private sector, Mokgadi Mashishi of Organon tied SRHR to gender equality and economic development. She called for greater investment and collaboration, noting that unsafe abortions and unplanned pregnancies add to health system costs. “The days of ‘children must be seen and not heard’ are over,” she declared. “We are here to listen, partner, and provide solutions.”

Finally, Testimony Adetemi, Marketing Lead at Healthtracka, showcased how innovation meets compassion in their approach. From HPV self-sampling kits to Lola AI (an SRHR chatbot accessible via WhatsApp), Healthtracka is bridging digital and human touchpoints. “We built this with kindness,” she said, “because it is not just about tech — it is about building a future where every woman gets the care and education she needs.”

Moving Forward: Closing the SRHR Impact Gap

These conversations made one thing clear: policies alone are not enough. To make lasting SRHR impact, we need:

• Strategic funding — both domestic and donor-aligned.

• Strong policy implementation and tracking mechanisms.

• Youth-centered service delivery models.

• Technology and grassroots outreach work hand in hand.

• Cross-sector partnerships are built on shared values, respect, and urgency.

This policy dialogue was a reminder that impact begins with inclusion and ends with accountability. Nigeria’s reproductive health future cannot depend solely on external donors, policy documents, or good intentions. It must be built on domestic investment, youth leadership, community engagement, and sustainable systems. The work ahead is enormous, but so is the opportunity. If we act now — with clarity, courage, and collaboration — we can truly close the reproductive health impact gap.