Nigerian government aims to improve access to contraception

The Nigerian government has said it plans to improve the level of access to contraception over the next few years.

According to Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, the country's health minister, officials want to achieve a 36 per cent prevalence rate in the next six years, Nigerian newspaper the Leadership reports.

This should have a profound impact on women's health in the nation, as he believes it will stop 31,000 females dying in childbirth.

Dr Ali Pate said the maternal death rate in Nigeria is unacceptably high at the moment, while child mortality also needs to be reduced.

Enabling people to get hold of contraception forms part of a wider effort to save the lives of both mothers and infants.

"This will be done in an integrated manner within the framework of primary health care approach" Dr Ali Pate stated.

The announcement comes after the World Health Organization said it is a fundamental right of women to be able to access modern means of contraception.