Bauchi State Government has increased Family Planning (FP) budgetary allocation from NGN75 million in 2023 to NGN120 million in 2024 to support extensive training, awareness creation, and supportive supervision and dissemination of the national guideline for state-funded procurement of FP commodities.
The disclosure was made by the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, in his speech during the dissemination meeting of the Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) Project in Bauchi State held at Government House, Banquet Hall on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr Kashim Ibrahim Mohammed, stressed that the state government is consistently committed to providing the best and most needed policy and strategic plan that will enhance the lives and livelihoods of the people and ensure growth and development in the state.
He said, “I`m deeply elated to address you today on the significant milestone that we are able to achieve as a government in our collective effort towards rebranding the continuum of services in the health sector.”
“As I welcome you all to the Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) Project dissemination implemented by MSI (Nigeria) Reproductive Choices, it is important to note that in Bauchi State, our policy direction is regularly geared towards addressing the prevailing outcry in our various policy initiatives and programmes, the Governor added.
According to him, “This project represents a significant step forward in ensuring that every woman has access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services.”
Bala Mohammed added that “the implementation of this project underscores our commitment to excellence in reproductive healthcare intervention. Through implementing rigorous quality assurance measures, we can ensure that all family planning services provided in our state meet the highest standard of safety, effectiveness, and patient-centred care.”
“According to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and the 2030 family planning target and objectives, access to contraceptives is recognised to play a key role in the achievement of national and international development goals of reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality ratios, as well as serve as an important turning point for the acceleration of economic growth and development,” he stressed.
The Governor added that over time, the government, with support from development partners, has been working to see family planning information, services, and commodities being provided free at all public sector health facilities, which has increased the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) services to 83,126 in 2023 from 56,304 in 2021.”
He also said that one of the aims of the WISH project was to enhance government ownership of sexual and reproductive health service provision and supervision mechanisms. It also aims to adopt suitable methods of creating awareness and acceptance among our people about family planning and service uptake by changing some social norms that prevent people from taking up services.”
According to him, Part of our administration`s commitment to the health sector includes but is not limited to the renovation of the 26 General hospitals, including Staff accommodations and construction of 3 Cottage Hospitals in Dambam, Katagum, and Warji LGAs At the PHC level, constructed and commissioned over 20 Health Facilities across the 20 LGAs.”
He added that there was a lifting of over a decade’s embargo on employment and the employment of over 1,500 health workers, comprising nurses and other health professionals, to curb the incessant scarcity of Health workers.
Re-introduction of a pre-service scheme where Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and other health professionals in training are given an automatic appointment.”
In order to avert periodic stock-out of FP commodities, the State Government has continued to provide FP commodities to over 600 health facilities across the State with support from partners.
In his opening remarks, Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, stressed that “evidently, the Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) project is an attestation of our government’s open-door policy and commitment to partnerships that lead to the development of our people.”
The Commissioner added that “the MSI Nigeria WISH project tends to address gaps in knowledge and access to contraception, STI prevention, and other reproductive health needs. On behalf of the Bauchi State Government.”
According to him, some of the Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) programmes include Comprehensive Services, including family planning, maternal health care, post-abortion care, and services for adolescents, as well as Improved Access which means more accessible to women and girls across Nigeria, as well as Quality of Care, Improving quality of care, and ensuring that services are delivered with expertise and sensitivity.
It is also addressing stigma through education and community engagement, thereby having an impact on maternal mortality and morbidity. Youth-friendly services are tailored to their specific health needs.
He added “We recognise the significance of the transition of 24 health facilities in the state to our government. This is an efficient strategy for ensuring the sustainability of beautiful interventions like the WISH project.”
“We also appreciate the setting up of the Quality Assurance Technical Team, which not only built the capacity of our staff in the state but also set up the right systems needed in our health sector for quality data, operations, and service delivery to our women,” he added.
According to him, In this part of the state, we must commend the steadfastness of the Bauchi State Government for providing the needed support, especially by increasing the budgetary allocation of FP from 75 million in 2023 to 120 million in 2024.”
The Commissioner added that again, staff capacity has been built to meet the challenges of contemporary times in MNCH services across our health facilities. I want to appreciate MSI’s intervention in these initiatives and other partners’ financial and technical support to the State.’
On his part, the Country Director of MSI Nigeria, Mr Emmanuel Aja, explained that one of the aims of the WISH project is to enhance the government’s ownership of Sexual and Reproductive Health Service provision and supervision mechanisms.
He said it also aims to adopt suitable methods of creating awareness and acceptance among the people regarding family planning and service uptake by changing some social norms that otherwise discourage them.
