HEALTH INTERACTIVE WITH DR. AMINU MAGASHI

 

Nigeria’s Population : Implication to Health and Development

gamagashi@gmail.com 

 

 

On Wednesday 30th January 2007, I participated in an afternoon seminar at U.K House of Commons entitled “Population: The Unfinished Agenda”. The occasion witnessed three presentations from Mr Gareth Thomas M.P, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development, Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the British Antarctic Survey and Dr Nafis Sadik , Special Adviser to the U.N Secretary General and former Executive Director of United Nation Population Fund ( UNFPA ) .

 

The seminar was largely attended by M.Ps, International Development Organisations, NGOs working on Sexual/Reproductive Health and Academia.  A summary of the issues extensively discussed shows that in 2005, the world’s population was 6 billion and by 2050 it is estimated to be 9 billion . The bulk of  the population growth is in the poorest countries – Sub Saharan Africa and large part of Asia and are least able to cope with subsequent pressures on Food , Water , Health , Education Services and Employment Opportunities .

 

In Sub Saharan Africa , almost all countries will double in size by 2050 . A case study of Niger Republic revealed that “Fertility has remained at 7 children per woman for the last 50 years . There is no National Family Planning Programmes and modern contraceptive use is 4.6 % . The current population is 14 Million and already faces massive food shortages . Even if fertility is halves , the population will be 50 Million by 2050” . In that scenario , unless aggressive population control policies are formulated and implemented , Niger will sooner be facing a very serious food and health crises .

 

According to 2006 census figure, Nigeria’s population stands at approximately 140 Million. While Kano and Lagos  were reported to be the first and second most populous states in the country respectively . It is expected that the two states and others as a matter of urgency should be appraising  the implication of that and strategise in addressing the effect of rapid population growth . The situation is pitiable , Kano and Lagos and those siding with them reportedly were at each other jugular veins , struggling to justify why one should be populous than the other  . The issue is always about using population figures to negotiate more federal allocation and votes. Whether such resources are channelled to address Diseases, Ignorance and Poverty or not, that has never been of concern in the debate surrounding census figures in Nigeria .

 

The 1991 Population Census in Nigeria  puts the population of the country at 88.9 Million people with an annual growth rate of 2.9 % .At this rate , Nigeria is one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Projections based on that  growth rate showed that the population was 99.2 Million in 1995 and would be 178 .6 Million in 2015 and 235.6 Million in 2025 (NPC 1998)

 

At that rate, the population will double in about 20 years. Almost half of the population (44.9 %) is under 15 years of age and old people ( 65 years and above ) constitute 3.3 %. The working population (aged 15 – 64) makes up to only 51.8 % of the population. (UNS 2001).This young population structure translates to a very high dependency ratio and a greater burden for employed people.

 

If one add the 44 .9 %  (under 15 years) , with 3.3 % ( 65 years and above ) and those within the working population that are unemployed , one is bound to see that in Nigeria , there are more Consumers than Producers and that has great health and economic implications . In a rapid population growth rate scenario like Nigeria, women will continue to die from pregnancy related problems mostly preventable conditions due to dwindling resources , few skilled attendants at birth , decay infrastructure and above all weak health system . Nigeria is recording the highest maternal death  after India globally .

With respect to children , they will continue to die before reaching fifth birthday at an alarming rate . Nigeria’s Under Five Mortality Rate as at 2005 is 194 deaths out of 1000 live birth (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nigeria.html ) . It is indeed a national calamity, disaster and shame .  Why would a rapid population growth lead to such problems. For obvious reasons , there are more consumers than producers in the country and  the more a woman is  pregnant ,  the more the risk to her health and survival . She is vulnerable to physical injuries  such as Vesico Vaginal Fistula , Genital Tear , Uterine Rupture and also severe loss of blood , Prolapse , Pile and Tiredness . Having many children without spacing also exposes the children to less attention and care and sharing of limited resources to cater for large family .

 

With respect to environment , according to United Nation 2006 MDGs’ Report “The proportion of people using improved sanitation in Sub Saharan Africa ( SSA )  in 1990 and 2004 were 32 % and 37 % respectively . The target to reach by 2015 is 66 %. S.S.A is the world’s  most rapidly urbanising region and almost all of this growth has been in Slums were new city residents face over crowding , inadequate housing and lack of water and sanitation”  The end result to that would be spread of communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis and Diarrhoeal diseases among inhabitants , with children affected the more .

 

With rapid population growth  , there will be fewer spaces for education especially for girls and rapid urban growth will create concentration of unemployed youths and that’s on its own is a risk factor for civil conflicts , increase sexual activities through  prostitutions , sexual harassment , assault , incest and rape . The end result would be, spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV/AIDS , unplanned pregnancies , unsafe abortion and adolescent mothers .  All these problems will have direct negative effects on the Nigeria’s Economy  ,  Quality of Life  and  Sustainable Development .

 

While Nigeria is not short of Population Policies , the greatest dilemma is implementation of the policies and ensuring that the people of the nation have properly understand the implication of rapid population growth and the need to tame it .

 

In 1988, the Federal government introduced its first policy on population tagged the National Policy on Population for Development, Unity, Progress and Self Reliance.

 

Among its targets were :  

 

1.      Reduce the proportion of women who bear more than 4 children by 80 % by 2000

2.      Reduce Infant Mortality Rate to 50 per 1000 live birth by 1995  and 30 per 1000 live birth by the year 2000

3.      Reduce the number of pregnancy to women below the age of 18 and above the age of 35 years by 50 % by 1995 and by 90% by the year 2000

4.      Make Family Planning services available to 50 % of women of child bearing age by 1995 and 80 % by year 2000

5.      Reduce rate of population growth from 3.3 to 2.5 % by 1995 and 2 % in the year 2000

6.      Provide suitable Family Life Education, Family Planning Information and Services to all adolescents by the year  2000.

 

The targets were reviewed in November 2001 and regrettably at that time , Nigeria is not only far from actualising those targets , the situation had gone from bad to worse .  The review led to the emergence of The National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development which is in line with  achieving the Millennium Development Goals .  

 

In conclusion, the population policy can only be achieved if  the Government of the day at all levels ( Federal , State and LGA ) is convince that  there is a problem which need to be solved  . It must have the political will and the commitment to address such by providing quality Sexual/Reproductive Health Services such as Counselling and Family Planning Services all over the country and ensure meeting the unmet needs of contraceptive services . Side by Side with that  , there should be sustained involvement of Civil Societies , International/Local Development Partners and the Media to be educating the public and  complementing government’s efforts  in ensuring  accessibility, affordability and  availability of such services . That way Nigeria can mitigate the adverse consequences of Rapid Population Growth.

 

Dr  Magashi  is a Masters  Student (Public Health) at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine . He can be reached at gamagashi@gmail.com   or healthinteractive@hotmail.com