Bauchi State Government has received essential family planning commodities and consumables worth N50m as support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The donation of the items was aimed at reducing maternal deaths by controlling pregnancy and planning the family for a healthy society.
UNFPA, while announcing the donation, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the state in reducing maternal mortality and strengthening reproductive healthcare through sustained collaboration.
The UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist and officer-in-charge of the Kaduna sub-office, who is Assistant Country Representative, Dr. Audu Alayande, made the announcement during an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination.
Audu Alayande disclosed that UNFPA is providing family planning commodities in order to improve access to quality reproductive health services at health centres.
He also said the intervention forms part of the organisation’s broader commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths, expanding access to reproductive healthcare, and addressing gender-based violence.
He further commended the state government for providing an enabling environment that has facilitated the successful implementation of UNFPA-supported programmes across the state.
Responding, the State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Mohammed Katagum, expressed appreciation for UNFPA’s continued support, describing the partnership as critical to improving maternal and child health outcomes in Bauchi.
She said the Ministry is working closely with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of all UNFPA-supported interventions.
Amina Katagum acknowledged that funding cuts by some international development partners, including the United States, have created challenges for the health sector.
However, she assured that the state government is complementing the efforts of its development partners by deploying available resources to sustain essential health services.
She further pledged the Ministry’s continued support to ensure the successful implementation of UNFPA programmes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women and children across the state.
The Assistant Country Representative later had a meeting with UNFPA Focal Officers from the relevant MDAs, urging them to ensure review of approved activities for 2026 and commence immediate implementation based on the approved work plan and availability of funds.
He stressed the need for early retirement of funds in order to attract adequate funding of activities for the next implementation year.
He was accompanied by the State Project Officer, Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst, Deborah Tabara, who commended the Focal Officers for ensuring full implementation of the approved activities in the previous years.
She assured that UNFPA will continue to support the government in order to ensure quality family and public health services, which are the main areas of intervention.