Ebonyi State Governor Calls for Family Planning Investment at RAPID Launch in Nigeria
November 3, 2017
The Governor of Nigeria’s Ebonyi State, David Umahi, pledged new resources and called for traditional leaders to promote family planning in their communities on November 1, 2017, at the launch of the Ebonyi State RAPID (Resources for the Awareness of Population Impacts on Development), which was developed with support by the USAID-funded Health Policy Plus (HP+). The Ebonyi State RAPID provides easy-to-use facts and figures that support the case for investment in family planning in Ebonyi based on a model application projecting the impact of rapid population growth on various sectors. The RAPID estimates that a total fertility rate reduced to three births per woman by 2037 and then reduced to about two births per woman by 2050 could save approximately US$107 million (38 billion naira) in primary education costs between now and 2050. Governor Umahi pledged a bus to be used for community mobilization and outreach services in rural parts of the state. The event was broadcast live on state TV and included the HP+ Country Director, Onoriode Ezire, members of the state executive council, and traditional leaders.
