By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State has inaugurated a family planning finance tracker tracking team with a mandate for them to track all finances regarding FP services in the state
State commissioner of health Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam said the state has committed 50 million naira for family planning commodities even though the is delay in the release of the funds.
He was speaking at the dissemination of the Bauchi State family planning financing tracker organized by the ministry of health, State Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with UNFPA Wednesday at the Bauchi State primary health care board conference hall.
He said there are many International partners supporting the state in the area of family planning commodities and services, hence the need to develop the tracker to be able to track these resources and implementation for improved uptake of family planning services in the state.
“Today’s dissemination comes after the three day technical workshop held in Jos plateau State where the State based financing tracker for family planning was developed with inputs from some IPs implementing FP services in Bauchi”.
Represented by the executive chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the commissioner added that the tracker team will track all family planning expenditure, monitor and analyze activities of partners on family planning.
While acknowledging the support of UNFPA in FP commodities supply, the commissioner said the ministry is following up the commitment by government to see to the release of the money approved before the year runs out
In a presentation on the overview of FP landscape in Bauchi ,UNFPA State program officer Deborah Tabara said the dissemination and inauguration of the tracker team was a crucial step in enhancing the state’s family planning initiatives by ensuring efficient tracking and utilization of financial resources.
This she said is in-line with the launch of the National Guidelines for State –Funded Procurement of Family Planning Commodities in the Bauchi state.
“This represents a critical step taken by Bauchi State government to ensuring sustainable delivery and uptake of quality and affordable family planning services.
UNFPA applauded the federal government for committing 4million USD to the National Basket fund for procurement of FP commodities in alignment with the initiative to assume greater responsibility for the procurement of family planning commodities and the National Family Planning Programme.
UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA work is guided by three transformative agenda which includes, ending unmet needs for family planning, zero preventable maternal death, zero gender based violence and harmful practices.
For decades, UNFPA has committed to supporting the Government of Nigeria through strategic technical guidance as well as funding for the procurement of Family planning commodities alongside last mile distribution to service deliver points across several states on behalf of the Nigerian government.
In a presentation on an overview of Family Planning Landscape in Nigeria by
The Bauchi State Programme officer further stated that UNFPA has supported the procurement and distribution of commodities worth 1.22 Billion to Bauchi state in the last 2 years.
And since the establishment of the National Basket Fund in 2011, UNFPA has contributed at least 70% of the funds for procurement and 90% in 2023.
UNFPA reiterates its commitment to the partnership with Bauchi government to ensure a positive outcome in its development
“UNFPA appreciates the Executive Chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board for his responsiveness and unflinching commitment in advocating for family planning and for championing resource mobilization for FP commodity to bridge the funding gap.
She noted that family planning has been shown to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, as well as accelerate economic growth and development.
The federal Government she acknowledged has been making counterpart contributions since 2011 and has also made a commitment to increase domestic funding over the coming years.
To sustain these gains and complement the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria in meeting the commitments to increase domestic funding for Family planning commodities and programming, UNFPA supported the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health to develop a strategic document to provide guidelines for the various states in the country to actively participate in the funding for the procurement of Family Planning (FP) commodities.
According to the 2023 NDHS report Bauchi State has a high total fertility rate (TFR ) of 7.2% and unmet need for FP (20,0%), a low modern contraceptives prevalence rate (mCPR )of 5%.
UNFPA has supported the procurement and distribution of commodities worth 1.97 Billion to Bauchi state in the last 12 years.
Deborah Tabara stated that UNFPA has incentives that include increase in FP commodity supply, training and other projects for states that contribute to the National basket fund for the procurement of commodities.
UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health agency whose mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
