Health centres in Bodinga, Sokoto State, have observed a surge in young women seeking family planning services, with single women now outnumbering married clients.
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) recently conducted a visit to Bodinga’s primary health centres, finding a steady rise in family planning patients since July.
The Women and Child Welfare Clinic (WCWC Sifawa) in Bodinga is one such centre experiencing increased demand.
A staff member at WCWC, Miss Amau Hassan noted that while married women often come with their husbands, the majority of family planning clients are young, single women who attend the clinic alone.
“Family planning services are available here every day, and products are provided at no cost,” she said, adding that patients need only bring their own syringe and plaster.
The WCWC clinic has seen patient numbers steadily increase, with 75 visitors in July, 158 in August, 218 in September, and 307 in October.
Some patients arrive via TCI referrals, while others are self-referred or connected through Social Mobility (SM) programs.
The TCI team also visited Dingyadi Primary Health Center (PHC), which has experienced similar trends. Mrs Fatima Hussain, the clinic’s family planning manager, shared that demand spiked over the summer, from 89 patients in June to 120 in September.
“It’s encouraging to see so many people seeking family planning,” she said, “but our supplies, particularly tablets and injections, often run low. We have to send patients to General Hospital Bodinga if they need those items.”
Mrs Hussain expressed gratitude to TCI for its support and noted that with additional supplies, the clinic could meet the full needs of its patients.
Dingyadi PHC’s Officer in Charge, Mr. Chika Muhammad, said the clinic is planning outreach efforts to increase community awareness of family planning options.
The Bodinga clinics have requested further support from TCI, specifically in providing syringes, plasters, tablets, and injections, to fully meet the growing demand for family planning services in the region.
