Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders has advocated for an increased budget line and cash backing for Family Planning (FP) services in Sokoto state.
This came on Wednesday at the TCI, Partners advocacy review meeting to analyze the success and Challenges of FP services recorded a couple of months in 2024 and plan ahead for the year 2025.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA), Hon. Bello Manager, reiterated that FP has achieved over 90 percent in the state as couples are participating in the demand for Family planning services.
Represented by Director Advocacy, SPHCDA, Dahiru Mohammed Kamaru Gada, he emphasized that, the state government was all out to provide needed consumables and other necessary tools for the success of family planning in all government-related health facilities across the state.
In her s presentations, the TCI manager Dr Bello Mohammed Kilgori hammers on the benefits attached to Family planning and the importance of the FP advocacy review meeting which he said was aimed at building on the successes and lessons learned in 2024 as it relates to enhanced group and community advocacy.
“The TCI partnership will continue to preserve and expand on the best of FP2024, to shift the balance in ensuring accountability, commitments, and transparency of FP services.
“Advocacy and accountability are two pillars of the FP agenda, while evidence-based advocacy remains the engine that drives progress in the clients’ demand for family planning services to achieve desired goals.”
The TCI in partnership with other support partners is committed to strengthening stakeholders’ engagement by cultivating a strong bond between the service providers and their teeming clients in health facilities across the state.
According to him FP reduces adolescent pregnancies, and prevents pregnancy-related health risks, adding that, access to contraception promotes education, raises the economic status of women, and gradual empowerment resulting in enhanced health outcomes and quality of life for Women and children.
A traditional ruler in Sokoto and the District Head of Gagi, Sani Umar Jabbi, drew the attention of participants at the meeting to increase their level of advocacy on those that matter in the state for the program to achieve the desired acceptability and recognition.
He expressed concern with the negative attitude of some officials who are saddled with the responsibility of providing needed consumables and promoting the FP services in the state.
“It’s high time for concerned Government officials to be upright while presenting memos to the government seeking approvals for the purchase of FP consumables, same as other donor-related programs including vaccination on poliomyelitis and other public health-related services.”
“We should continue to be neutral and independent in our advocacy.
“We can achieve whatever our set goal if we’re independent; we should ensure a design framework for maximum result,” Jabbi added.
