NIGERIAN NATIONAL POPULATION PLOICY 2006; A LOOK AT THE GENDER ISSUSES

THE GENDER ISSUES IN THE 2006 NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY

The 2006 reviewed National Policy on population and sustainable development was designed to improve the life of people, promote maternal, child and reproductive and achieve a lower population growth through the reduction of birth rates by voluntary regulatory methods compatible with the National policy, to achieve even distribution of population between the rural and urban areas, prevent the causes and spread of HIV/AIDS pandemics and address the problem of internal migration spatial distribution of population.

The National Population policy considered

·         The status of the Nigerian Woman is lower than that of the man. That predominant cultural practice determines the low status of women beginning from childhood, which the girl child is not given equal opportunity even in schooling.

·         High rates of maternal morbidity and mortality which are caused by lack of decision making by women, lack of reproductive Health knowledge, poverty, denial of reproductive health services with the inclusion of other harmful cultural practices against the women like Female Genital Cutting, gender based violence widow rites etc.

·         Gender  stereo type; women have less proportionately professional in the modern sector positions, less access to credit and economic resources, lower participation in the political life of a country.

·         That Nigerian men generally regarded as the head of house dominates sexual and reproductive health decision making, have greater say in use of family planning methods, productive resources and property inheritance, in addiction certain male behavior (multi sexual partner, sexual relation with sex workers, polygyny, non use of condom) which can jeopardize the reproductive health of a woman and contribute to transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted disease.

Then followed the guiding principle 8 which is part of the guiding principle which was derived from the programme of action of the International conference on Population and Development and are in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states thus;

“The government shall pursue all issues relating to gender equality before the law, equity and women empowerment, and the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and all forms of harmful practices.”

The implementation strategies for the population policy necessarily focused on population related issues while recognizing the country has to address many other related concern to achieve Sustainable Development e.g. Health concerns, Gender Issues, Education, Environment etc.

Gender issues

Complications related to pregnancy and child birth contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates amongst women of child bearing age. These issues have serious impact on the family welfare and at the long run on national development. Concerted efforts are needed to ensure women’s health.

·         Women’s health and safe mother hood shall be promoted to through effective antenatal delivery and postnatal programmes.

·         Health and Nutrition improvement especially for the pregnant women and the nursing mothers through health promotion and programmes.

·         Risk of maternal and prenatal death shall be reduced through improved access to Emergency Obstetric Care.

·         Easy, affordable, effective and accessible methods of family planning shall be provided and promoted to reduce incidence of unwanted pregnancies.

·          Accessible, well staffed well equipped health services at all levels shall be provided.

·         Efforts to collect data on women’s health need shall be intensified.

·         Measures to detect, prevent and manage high risk pregnancies and birth shall be promoted.

·         Curricula of health training institution in the area of emergency obstetric shall be strengthened to enhance the availability of skilled care of service delivery at all levels.

·         Behavioral communication change to discourage unsafe delivery practice and enhance utilization of modern services shall be promoted.

The policy shall also implement strategies in the areas of reproductive and sexual health, family planning and fertility management as well as HIV/AIDS.