By Lizzy Carr
Stakeholders at an engagement meeting on family planning services in Bauchi State have called on the government and corporate organizations to bridge the funding gap left by the withdrawal of USAID funding for health interventions.
The meeting, organized by The Challenge Initiative (TCI), aimed to strengthen collaboration between state and non-state actors, sustain family planning and adolescent youth impact, review successes and challenges, and facilitate state commitment to family planning (FP) and adolescent health funding.
Representatives from the Advocacy Core Group (ACG), Bauchi State Sustainability Initiative, and Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative raised concerns over the frequent stockouts of family planning commodities in health facilities across the state.
They noted that demand for FP services has risen following sustained awareness campaigns encouraging families to space births.
However, many health facilities are experiencing shortages of essential commodities and consumables, limiting access to these services.
The stakeholders recommended alternative resource mobilization strategies, the reactivation of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee, and greater community involvement to ensure sustainable funding.
The need for governments at all levels to adopt alternative funding models was emphasized, given the gradual phase-out of donor-funded health projects.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Dambam, noted that the sudden withdrawal of USAID’s support has severely impacted health interventions, particularly the last-mile distribution of FP commodities. This, he said, has led to widespread shortages.
Represented by the Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, the commissioner stressed the urgency of local funding solutions.
“These donors and international development partners will not be here forever. We need to create local solutions to this problem immediately, which is why we must look inward,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, emphasized the importance of sustaining the progress made in family planning by ensuring consistent availability of commodities and consumables.
“Stakeholders must mobilize resources to ensure that these commodities remain available now that families have accepted family planning,” he added.
TCI Consultant, Yakubu Abubakar, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to providing technical support for FP implementation, even though Bauchi State has graduated from its direct funding.
He described the meeting as an opportunity to reconnect with structures established by the state to mobilize communities for FP services.
“TCI has supported the state in putting key structures in place. Today, our technical support aims to ensure that these groups continue promoting reproductive health, family planning, and adolescent health services,” he said.
