July 18, (THEWILL) – The Executive Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra, has said that the COVID-19 pandemic reversed the gains of population management in Nigeria.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Population Day in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, Kwarra warned that if unchecked, the development might impact negatively on efforts to moderate population growth in the long term.
The event was themed, ‘Rights and choices are the answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution kids in prioritising the reproductive health and rights of all people.’
The Chairman’s address was delivered by the State Director of the NPC, Eteng Bassey. He said, “In the frantic effort to address matters arising from COVID-19 in Nigeria, issues of reproductive health, particularly family planning, suffered complete neglect.
“This reverses the gains made on population management with short and long term implications, regarding efforts to align our population growth with economic growth.
“The outcome if left unchecked will have enormous and immediate, long term negative impact on our efforts to moderate population growth, improve the standards of living and quality of life of all our citizens, even during the aftermath of the COVID-19.”
He added that the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic impacted more on women and girls, impeded access to basic healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services, as well as family planning.
He said there was a need to address major data gaps that limit the people’s understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on fertility.
This, he stressed, raises “the urgency and imperativeness for the conduct of the next population and housing census to provide data and evidence.”
He described the full implementation of the just approved Revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development as a prerequisite for addressing the concerns highlighted by the theme of this year’s World Population Day event.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
