The Yobe State Government has started a transition plan to take full control of family planning programmes, which were previously supported by The Challenge Initiative (TCI).
At a meeting on Wednesday, health stakeholders discussed how the partnership improved funding and boosted the skills of healthcare workers in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina, said the state had increased its budget for family planning.
“Yobe State budgeted ₦100 million for family planning and has already released over ₦73 million for implementation,” he explained, crediting TCI’s guidance in grant management for this progress.
The Director of Community and Family Health Services, Mr. Ibrahim Maikasuwa, compared the past to the present.
“Before TCI’s support, access to services was poor and health workers lacked knowledge. Now, they are skilled and delivering better services,” he said.
The Yobe State TCI Programme Manager, Dr. Philimon Yohanna Mamza, praised the partnership’s success.
He added that TCI would remain a supportive partner to ensure a smooth handover to the state.
The State Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator, Mairo Yakubu Hassan, highlighted innovative approaches, such as the Whole Site Orientation, which trains every staff member at a health facility.
She expressed hope that the modern contraceptive prevalence rate could rise above 15% in the next one to two years.
“The transition shows how international partnerships can help states build strong local systems for long-term reproductive healthcare,” she said.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Lukuman Olatoshe, a TCI communication officer and technical advisor, said the transition followed three years of support that included training and capacity building.
“This support has made the state more self-reliant and able to sustain the programme,” he explained.
He clarified that TCI was not completely leaving the state.
“We’ll provide light technical assistance and continue offering support,” Olatoshe said.
He added that the state now better understands how to manage family planning and reproductive health services.
To keep the programme running, he stressed the need for government to fund family planning commodities, release approved funds, and buy essential supplies.
Olatoshe also urged trained individuals and partners to share their knowledge with others, ensuring skills are transferred and capacity grows across the state.
