The Bauchi State Government has received family planning commodities and consumables worth N50 million from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen reproductive healthcare services and reduce maternal mortality across the state.
The donation is aimed at improving access to quality family planning services, promoting healthy pregnancies, and enabling families to make informed reproductive health decisions.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, the UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the Kaduna Sub-Office, Dr. Audu Alayande, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Bauchi State in reducing maternal deaths and improving reproductive health outcomes through sustained collaboration.
Dr. Alayande said the family planning commodities would be distributed to health facilities across the state to improve access to essential reproductive health services. He noted that the intervention forms part of UNFPA’s broader efforts to end preventable maternal deaths, expand access to reproductive healthcare, and address gender-based violence.
He also commended the Bauchi State Government for providing an enabling environment that has supported the successful implementation of UNFPA-assisted programmes over the years.
Responding, the Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Mohammed Katagum, expressed appreciation for UNFPA’s continued partnership, describing it as vital to improving maternal and child health outcomes in the state.
She said the ministry was working closely with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure the effective coordination, implementation, and monitoring of all UNFPA-supported interventions.
The commissioner acknowledged that funding reductions by some international development partners, including the United States, have posed challenges to the health sector. However, she assured that the Bauchi State Government was complementing the efforts of its development partners by deploying available resources to sustain essential health services.
Hajiya Katagum further pledged the ministry’s continued support to ensure the successful implementation of UNFPA programmes aimed at improving the health and well-being of women and children across Bauchi State.
Following the advocacy visit, Dr. Alayande met with UNFPA focal officers from relevant MDAs, where he urged them to review the approved 2026 activities and commence immediate implementation in line with the approved work plan and available funding.
He stressed the importance of the timely retirement of funds to enhance accountability and improve the state’s chances of attracting adequate funding for programmes in the next implementation cycle.
Also speaking, the State Project Officer and Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst, Deborah Tabara, commended the focal officers for successfully implementing approved activities in previous years. She assured them of UNFPA’s continued support for the Bauchi State Government in strengthening family planning, reproductive healthcare, and other key public health interventions.
