By Vivian Ihechu

With development funding becoming increasingly constrained, Pathfinder International is urging the adoption of innovative approaches and the fostering of diverse partnerships to continue serving women and girls, particularly in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

The organisation highlighted that the current stop-work order and broader funding constraints are creating significant challenges for healthcare delivery.

Amina Dorayi, Nigeria Country Director for Pathfinder International, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

NAN reports that in January 2025, USAID issued a blanket stop-work order to all its implementing partners, halting the implementation of USAID-funded activities.

Dorayi emphasised that without continued investment, thousands of lives in the countries where the organisation worked, Nigeria included were at risk each month.

“Hundreds of thousands will lose access to family planning services 228,240 clients, unintended pregnancies 210,389 and unsafe abortions 75,394 will surge, with avoidable maternal deaths 156 becoming a harsh reality,” she said.

She also pointed out the risk of women missing critical antenatal 352, delivery 1,004, and postpartum care 1,081, while survivors of gender-based violence 233 would be left without support.

Dorayi noted that any cuts to foreign aid would severely disrupt reproductive health services in Nigeria, especially Project 2025, which called for significant reductions in foreign aid, including critical global health programmes.

“This could lead to a rollback in FP2030 progress, leaving millions of women without access to contraceptives, declining maternal health services, and increasing preventable maternal deaths,” she warned.

She also highlighted the additional burden on Nigeria’s already overstretched healthcare system.

“In response to these challenges, Pathfinder is forging new partnerships with African governments, the private sector, and philanthropic organisations to reduce reliance on traditional donors.”

Dorayi added that the organisation was strengthening health information systems to optimise service delivery in spite of funding constraints.

She also discussed the importance of strengthening responses to gender-based violence (GBV), which remained a major barrier to SRHR in Nigeria.

“Pathfinder has integrated GBV response into primary healthcare, ensuring survivors receive medical and psychosocial support through our clinical and community-based interventions,” she said.

NAN reports that through its SRHR work, Pathfinder has reached millions globally, improving maternal and child health outcomes.

In Fiscal Year 2024, the organisation distributed 474 million contraceptive methods, serving 42 million clients with family planning services.

Additionally, 10.6 million pregnant women received antenatal care, and 7.6 million deliveries were supported.

Between 2020 and 2024, their efforts helped avert 32,000 maternal deaths (up from 7,000 in 2020), 28,000 unintended pregnancies (up from 5,000), and saved 2.2 billion dollars in healthcare costs (up from 443 million dollars).

Dorayi reaffirmed Pathfinder’s commitment to achieving the FP2030 goals in Nigeria, emphasising the organisation’s efforts to empower young people and improve healthcare services.

“With just five years left to achieve FP2030 targets, Pathfinder is accelerating efforts to ensure universal contraceptive access.

“Our programmes have trained healthcare workers, improved youth-friendly services, and transformed social and gender norms, making significant shifts in attitudes toward gender equality,” she said.

She assured that Pathfinder remained committed to ensuring that women and girls in Nigeria had full autonomy over their reproductive choices and access to quality healthcare.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru