By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, Dec. 19, 2025
The Bauchi State Government, in a significant move to bolster reproductive health, has reviewed and validated a comprehensive five-year Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) for 2026–2030. This strategic blueprint, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aims to dramatically expand access to affordable, voluntary child-spacing services across the state’s communities.
Speaking at the validation workshop, Dr. Sani Dambam, the State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, underscored the plan’s critical role. “This document provides the definitive policy and operational direction for effective family planning service delivery,” he stated. He confirmed that the validated plan would be submitted to the State Executive Council for formal approval, a final step before full-scale implementation.
Dr. Dambam highlighted the indispensable partnership with UNFPA, which has been pivotal in supplying essential family planning commodities. This support, he noted, is vital for reaching women and adolescents, particularly in underserved rural areas served by primary healthcare centres.
Financial Commitment and Strategic Goals
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, provided concrete details on the state’s commitment. He revealed that the state government has already released N15 million as its counterpart funding. Efforts are ongoing to secure the remaining N17 million balance to ensure the full procurement of necessary commodities. This financial pledge is a cornerstone of the N4.38 billion total plan.
Dr. Mohammed also issued a stark public health warning, linking the plan’s goals to tangible life-saving outcomes. “Poor birth spacing is a direct contributor to life-threatening complications for mothers,” he emphasised. “Effective child-spacing interventions are proven to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, making this plan a direct investment in the survival of Bauchi’s families.” He lauded the ongoing support from Governor , local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in fostering community acceptance and awareness.
A Plan with Measurable Ambitions and a High Return on Investment
UNFPA Country Representative, Muriel Mafico, commended the state’s leadership, describing the validation as a “major achievement.” She framed the plan within UNFPA’s global “Three Zeros” mandate, specifically targeting zero unmet need for family planning and zero preventable maternal deaths. Remarkably, the N4.38 billion investment is projected to yield an estimated N10 billion return on investment (ROI), a figure that encapsulates savings from reduced healthcare costs for pregnancy-related complications, increased economic productivity, and improved overall family well-being.
From Data to Action: Addressing the Unmet Need
Dr. Mohammed Liman, a consultant on the plan, presented compelling data that underscores both progress and the urgent need for the CIP. He noted that modern contraceptive use in Bauchi has risen from a mere 2% in 2008 to 10.6% in 2024. However, he highlighted a critical gap: the unmet need for family planning remains high at 22%. This means nearly a quarter of married women in Bauchi who wish to delay or prevent pregnancy are not using a modern contraceptive method, often due to lack of access, information, or support.
“The CIP is designed to bridge this gap through concrete, scalable actions,” Dr. Liman explained. The plan’s key interventions include:
- Infrastructure Upgrade: Renovating and equipping 125 health facilities to provide quality family planning services.
- Youth-Centric Services: Establishing dedicated adolescent-friendly health centres to cater to the unique needs of young people.
- Inclusive Programming: Ensuring services are accessible and tailored for persons with disabilities.
- Supply Chain Security: Forecasting and procuring a five-year supply of commodities to prevent stock-outs and meet rising demand.
Dr. Liman concluded that successful implementation would yield transformative results: a direct reduction in maternal and infant deaths, improved reproductive health autonomy for women and girls, and a stronger, more resilient primary healthcare system for the entire state.
Source: NAN (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
