The Bauchi State government has taken delivery from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), family planning commodities worth N50 million in furtherance of its commitment to close gaps in access to family planning and end maternal deaths.
Speaking while handing over the commodities to the state government at the Bauchi State Medical Store yesterday, UNFPA’s gender/reproductive health and state programme officer, Deborah Tabara, recalled that in 2023, Governor Bala Mohammed launched the family planning initiative, a move that significantly strengthened state-level funding for reproductive health services.
UNFPA reaffirmed committment to support the state in ending the unmet needs for family planning, preventing maternal deaths and eradicating gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
Also speaking, a UNFPA representative, Mr. Dashed Dasogot, expressed appreciation for the ongoing collaboration with the Bauchi State government.
He emphasised the importance of proper management and distribution of the commodities to ensure the achievement of set health targets.
UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, said it aims to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
UNFPA has supported the procurement and distribution of reproductive health commodities worth several billions of naira in Bauchi State over the past few years, contributing significantly to improved health outcomes.
Receiving the commodities on behalf of the state government, the commissioner for health, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, represented by Pharmacist Abdulkhadir Ahmed, thanked Governor Mohammed for approving the release of funds to UNFPA and expressed delight for the timely delivery.
He assured that the commodities would be properly stored and distributed through the appropriate channels.
Executive secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, also thanked UNFPA for fulfilling its promise and supporting health workers through capacity-building workshops and infrastructure upgrade in various health facilities.
Over the years, the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Board has demonstrated strong commitment to reproductive health by establishing a family planning advocacy and technical working group, developing a family planning tracker for programme monitoring and coordinating last-mile distribution in partnership with UNFPA.
