Bauchi Governor Pledges Commitment To Boost Women’s Access To SRH Services

……Welcomes implementation of WISH project

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Bauchi State Government  has reiterated its commitment to provide the needed policy direction to boost access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services for women in the state.

Governor Bala Mohammed gave the commitment at the dissemination meeting of Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) project at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi, on Tuesday.

Mohammed said that implementation of the project underscores the commitment of his administration to commitment to sexual and reproductive healthcare intervention.

He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim.

He observed that, through implementing quality assurance measures, the state can ensure that all family planning services provided meet the highest standard of safety, effectiveness, and patient-centered care.

According to him, over the years, the state government with support from development partners, has been working to ensuring that family planning information, services and commodities are being provided free at all public sector health facilities.

Mohammed said the commitment of his administration has increased the uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LAC) services to 83, 126 in 2023 from 56,304 in 2021.

He added that to avert periodic stock-out of family planning commodities, the State Government has continued to provide FP commodities to over 600 health facilities across the State with support from partners and appreciated MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices for the implementation of WISH project.

“I am very pleased to address you today on the significant milestone we have achieved as a Government, in our collective effort towards reenforcing the quality of services in the health sector,” he said.

“It is important to note that our policy direction in the state is geared towards addressing the prevailing challenges as regards to policy implementation.”

Mohammed said as part of his administration’s commitment in the health sector, it has enacted various policies to create enabling environment for the participation of implementing partners to support activities of government in the state.

The Governor said further that his administration has increased FP budgetary allocation from 75 Million naira in 2023 to 120 Million naira in the year 2024 to support extensive training, awareness creation and supportive supervision.

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 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 services uptake by changing some social norms that otherwise discourage them.