By Khalid Idris Doya
Plan International Nigeria has supplied essential mental health medications, family planning commodities and drugs for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to health facilities in Bauchi and Sokoto states to improve access to healthcare services.
The intervention was announced during the commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2026 in Bauchi on Saturday, under the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria (ASPIRE) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Speaking at the event held in Hazibal, Bauchi, the country director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Charles Usie, said the handover of the essential health commodities represented a shift from awareness and advocacy to practical action.
Usie, who was represented by the organisation's gender equality and inclusion officer, Damaris Philemon, said the intervention was aimed at strengthening access to essential health services for adolescents, young women and other people requiring care in the two states.
He noted that although awareness creation, advocacy and efforts to tackle stigma were important in promoting mental health, such initiatives must be supported by accessible services, trained healthcare providers, appropriate treatment and the availability of essential medicines.
"Today, as we commemorate World Mental Health Day 2026 and recognise the International Day of the Girl, we are also marking an important step towards strengthening access to essential health services for adolescents, young women and other people who require care across Bauchi and Sokoto states," he said.
According to him, the ASPIRE project works with government and communities to address interconnected challenges affecting adolescent girls and young women, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender inequality, harmful social norms, economic exclusion, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
He explained that routine quality-of-care assessments and supportive supervision conducted in collaboration with relevant government ministries and agencies had identified gaps in the availability of selected family planning commodities, STI medicines and psychotropic medications in supported health facilities.
These gaps, he said, could affect continuity of care and prevent people from accessing timely and appropriate treatment when needed.
"In response, and in support of ongoing government efforts, the ASPIRE project has procured essential family planning commodities, STI medicines and psychotropic medications for handover to the State Ministries of Health in Bauchi and Sokoto states.
"These include medicines supporting the management of a range of mental health conditions, alongside commodities that strengthen access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services," he said.
Usie described the intervention as an investment in strengthening health systems rather than merely a donation of medicines and other healthcare commodities.
He added that the supplies would be integrated into existing government storage, distribution and monitoring structures, including relevant Drug Revolving Fund mechanisms, to promote sustainability and prevent the creation of parallel systems.
According to him, integrating the commodities into existing government structures would help ensure that the intervention continued to support healthcare delivery beyond the lifespan of the project.
He stressed that mental health should be treated as an integral component of overall healthcare rather than an isolated intervention.
"Mental health services should not sit at the margins of our health systems or be treated as an isolated intervention. People requiring mental health support should be able to access appropriate, quality and stigma-free care within systems that are equipped to respond to their needs," he said.
The country director further emphasised the importance of providing adolescents and young women with responsive, confidential and appropriate sexual and reproductive health services, noting that access to such services could significantly improve their health, wellbeing, dignity and ability to make informed decisions.
He urged government partners to strengthen inventory management, ensure responsible distribution, monitor stock levels and provide utilisation reports to guarantee that the commodities reached designated health facilities and the people who needed them.
Usie also called for the use of evidence from the intervention to improve forecasting, procurement planning, budgeting and resource mobilisation for essential healthcare supplies.
He said the long-term objective was not merely to address immediate shortages but to strengthen health systems capable of anticipating needs, allocating resources effectively and sustaining access to essential services.
He commended the governments of Bauchi and Sokoto states, particularly their Ministries of Health, Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agencies, Hospital Management Boards, State Primary Health Care Development Boards and other partners, for their commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
He also expressed appreciation to Global Affairs Canada for supporting the ASPIRE project, which enables Plan International Nigeria to work with government institutions, communities and other partners to translate commitments to adolescent health, gender equality and wellbeing into practical action.
On mental health awareness, Usie urged the media to promote responsible reporting that challenges stigma and encourages people to seek professional support when necessary.
"The way we talk about mental health can either reinforce stigma or help dismantle it. The stories we tell can help people understand that seeking support is not something to be ashamed of and that access to quality mental healthcare is an essential part of a functioning health system," he said.
He added that sustained partnerships, government leadership and continued investment were essential to building health systems where mental healthcare was prioritised and adolescents and young women could access appropriate services without being denied treatment because of shortages of medicines or inadequate support systems.
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