By Nasir Shuaibu
Stakeholders have called on the Bauchi State Government to ensure uninterrupted availability of quality family planning commodities at health facilities across the state.
The stakeholders made the call during a dialogue meeting organised by the Better Life Restoration Initiative (BERI) in Bauchi on Thursday.
They said regular availability of commodities was critical to improving access to family planning services, particularly for women, adolescents and young people in underserved communities.
The participants urged the Bauchi State Ministry of Health to strengthen funding for family planning and ensure that approved resources were released and utilised promptly.
They also called for adequate training and capacity development for health workers to enable them to provide confidential, respectful and youth-friendly services.
Executive Director of BERI, Mrs Laraba Isaac, said the advocacy was part of activities under the ASPIRE Project, implemented by Plan International Nigeria with funding support from Global Affairs Canada in Bauchi and Sokoto states.
According to her, the project focuses on improving adolescent wellbeing through health information, gender equality, adolescent-friendly services, community engagement, advocacy and school-based interventions.
The Gender Desk Officer of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Zuwaira Baba, acknowledged progress in awareness creation and reduction of some harmful practices but stressed the need for sustained interventions.
The stakeholders said the government should also strengthen community awareness and demand creation to tackle misinformation and misconceptions surrounding family planning.
They maintained that sustained availability of commodities, adequate funding and properly trained health workers would improve access to reproductive health services and contribute to healthier families across the state.
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