At a media roundtable held at Dankane Guest Palace Hotel, Sokoto, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) celebrated Sokoto State’s family planning achievements, revealing an impressive 80% success rate in meeting family planning targets for 2023/2024.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Development Communications Network (DevCom), brought together key stakeholders, media representatives, and health professionals to discuss family planning progress and future goals.
TCI’s Sokoto representative, Mr. Bello Kilgore, detailed the state’s accomplishments, noting that Sokoto ranks second among 26 Nigerian states in family planning success.
Having worked in the state since 2022, TCI partners with states upon request, initially conducting a six-month assessment before implementing a 24-month support plan.
Sokoto has made notable strides, with TCI’s programs now reaching 90% of the state and active in 10 local government areas.
“Sokoto has exceeded expectations, standing out even above more developed regions, like Lagos, in family planning program impact,” said Kilgore. Once a state achieves 80% of its goals, it can sustain its own family planning initiatives with minimal external assistance.
The event was attended by leaders in public health and advocacy, including Mr. Sani Umar Jabbi, Chairman of the Family Planning Association in Nigeria, and health professionals from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), and other local health organizations. Discussions highlighted the need for mandatory premarital testing and enhanced public education.
UDUTH representative Mr. Bala Gadanga shared that his team regularly educates young women on family planning, emphasizing the importance of early knowledge.
He also addressed instances where some women reported being charged for contraceptives, which are meant to be free. “I encourage anyone asked to pay to remind providers that family planning products are free,” he advised.
The District Head of Gagi in Sokoto South Local Government, Mr. Sani Umar-Jabbi, underscored the importance of premarital STD and HIV testing.
“Many preventable health challenges, such as STIs and HIV, affect families in Sokoto. We must promote testing policies to safeguard public health,” he emphasized.
He shared a case in which a man’s undiagnosed HIV status impacted his entire family, underscoring the need for health policies that support preventive screening.
The roundtable also explored fertility trends in rural versus urban areas. “In urban regions, families make careful decisions on childbearing, balancing costs and education. However, rural women often lack the same autonomy, with most decisions about family size made by men,” Kilgore explained.
Mr. Umar-Jabbi thanked TCI for its efforts, noting that family planning is one area in which Sokoto has made significant progress.
He called on the media to continue raising awareness, highlighting TCI’s ongoing support for the state’s health initiatives.
