Lara Adejoro
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable, disability-inclusive family planning and equitable healthcare services as part of efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
The commitment was made in Abuja at the close-out ceremony of the Inclusive Family Planning (IFPLAN) project.
The five-year IFPLAN project, funded by UK Aid and implemented by a consortium led by Sightsavers alongside BBC Media Action, the Programme for Evidence to Inform Disability Action, the Network of Women with Disabilities, and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, was designed to increase knowledge and uptake of family planning among persons with disabilities while strengthening service providers and disability organisations to support an inclusive health system.
During its implementation, the project reached 1,912 persons with disabilities in 18 communities with social and behaviour-change interventions; provided family planning information to 544,759 persons with disabilities through radio, digital platforms, and community engagement; reached 3,002,265 people without disabilities with stigma-reduction messages; conducted accessibility audits in 24 health facilities; supported 23 facilities with accessibility upgrades; and trained 1,500 healthcare providers, among other achievements.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim-Anas, described the initiative as a model for disability inclusion and a key contributor to the Federal Government’s Renewed Health Agenda.
Dr. Ibrahim-Anas, represented by Dr. Fatima Jibrilla, commended the project partners for what she called a powerful demonstration of inclusive development.
She said, “The main achievement of the IFPLAN project is not just a technical milestone; it is proof of inclusive development and a great example of what we can accomplish when we commit to leaving no one behind. This project’s success aligns perfectly with the Renewed Health Agenda of this administration.
“Our goal is clear: to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or physical ability, has equal access to healthcare services. Family planning in this context is not an afterthought; it is a critical pillar of our public health strategy.
“We acknowledge the complex needs around modern contraceptive use, and we must actively expand our coverage to meet the needs of all women, regardless of socioeconomic or disability status. The IFPLAN project has offered us invaluable lessons, proving that inclusive and tailored approaches are necessary.”
She emphasised the need to dismantle barriers to access—physical, attitudinal, and communication—that prevent persons with disabilities from obtaining essential services.
“The success in Kaduna State shows that targeted training of health workers and the provision of accessible information can bridge this gap. We must also institutionalise value by ensuring that the sustainability plans being discussed today move beyond paper,” she added.
She also urged that the sustainability plans guide the government’s transition into a long-term effort to scale the project’s lessons nationwide.
The Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Prof. Joy Shuaibu, said the IFPLAN project demonstrated that when inclusion is intentional, it creates real impact for women and girls with disabilities.
Prof. Shuaibu noted that empowering healthcare workers with the right knowledge was one of the project’s most sustainable investments.
“When you empower someone with education and knowledge, it stays with them forever. So, we wanted to make sure that healthcare providers are comfortable providing services to persons with disabilities.
“One of the things we did in this project was to provide the knowledge to ensure that they know what to do,” she said.
She stressed that the next phase must focus on institutionalising disability inclusion in health policies and ensuring that persons with disabilities remain actively involved in shaping future programmes.
“What we have tried to do is demonstrate that inclusive programming, especially in sexual and reproductive healthcare, is possible. If you need technical support of any kind, please come to us; we will be willing to share.
“Ultimately, we want to create a country where persons with disabilities have equal access to healthcare, education, and livelihood,” she added.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Isa, described the IFPLAN project as a transformational intervention that expanded reproductive health access for women and girls with disabilities across Kaduna State.
Isa, represented by the Director of Media and Communications in his office, Lanre Oloyede, stressed the need for stronger government coordination in future disability-focused projects.
He reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate more strategically with development partners as efforts shift toward expanding disability-inclusive family planning nationwide.
“Let us continue to push for a Nigeria where no woman, no girl, and no person with a disability is denied the right to make informed choices about their own body and their own future,” he said.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, said the project has brought hope and tangible progress to countless families by ensuring persons with disabilities have equitable access to family planning services.
She noted that the project’s impact will remain a cornerstone in the collective journey toward Universal Health Coverage.
“I want to emphasise the unwavering commitment of Governor Sani Uba, who has consistently championed inclusive governance and people-centred development. Under his leadership, Kaduna State has prioritised health reforms, expanded access to primary healthcare, and strengthened partnerships with development agencies.
“In Kaduna State, we firmly believe that no citizen should be left behind. Through increased budgetary allocations to health, we have sustained the 15 per cent earmarked during our budget cycle.
“For us, there is no close-out. We have made provision in the 2026 budget, so there is already a budget line for this project. This demonstrates the governor’s commitment to sustaining inclusion, supporting disability-inclusive policies, making services accessible to all, strengthening family planning initiatives, and recognising their role in reducing maternal mortality and empowering families,” she said.
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