UNFPA, Gombe move to mitigate 3,238 abortions, 195 child deaths with supply of FP commodities
….as Gombe Govt provides 36 million naira as counterpart funding for the purchase of FP commodities
Chima Azubuike
The United Nations Population Fund Kaduna Sub Office Head, Dr Awoke Tasew-Tebej, has said with the recent procurement of Family Planning commodities by Gombe State no fewer than 3,238 abortions will be mitigated.
Tasew-Tebej, disclosed that 195 child-related deaths, as well 38 maternal mortality would be curbed.
He made this disclosure on Tuesday at the Gombe State medical store, during a handover of state procured FP commodities by Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and United Nations Population Fund.
According to him, access to contraceptives, is recognised to play a key role in the achievement of National International development goals, adding that the Sustainable Development Goal 3 and FP2030 targets and objectives would be attained.
He said the procurement would address the wide gap in the unmet need for family planning and reduce maternal mortality in Gombe State, leveraging on the long-term partnership with UNFPA in line with the National Guidelines for State-Funded Procurement of FP Commodities.
He said, “Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency supported the procurement of Male Condom, Noristerat, Depo Provera and Implanon. The impact will avert 7.818 unintended pregnancies 3,238 Abortions 38 Maternal deaths, and 195 child deaths.”
While commending the Gombe State Government, Tasew-Tebej, said Family Planning would not only reduce maternal and infant mortality, adding that it accelerates economic growth and development.
“The government in Nigeria is committed to ensuring that reproductive health services are accessible to all Nigerians especially the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls. In line with this. Gombe State government however made a commitment and demonstrated leadership as the first state in the country to facilitate the procurement of family planning commodities.
“Financing for health and Family Planning in Nigeria, is the responsibility of the three tiers of government (Federal, States and LGAs). Although FP funding is increasing every year, it has consistently been inadequate over the years and had to be augmented by external donors. Overall, FP been financed by external donors,” Tasew-Tebej added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Habu Dahiru, said the state provided 36 million has counterpart funding to procure the items, stressing that Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, is committed to improving the health of women.
He said the commodities was geared towards addressing unmet needs for Family Planning
Dahiru said, “The governor has priority for mother and to curb Maternal mortality. This is an intervention to cut cost and save lives.
“It’s free and no Kobo would be charged from recipients. It’s based on the data we will receive that will procure others. The counterpart is 36 million naira from Gombe State but procurement is way beyond that.”
Also, Yaya Hammari, who represented the traditional institution lauded Government and UNFPA for the collaboration, while promising that they would continue to support the uptake of child spacing in the state.
“We thank his Excellency for providing conducive environment for the counterpart funding,” Hammari said.
On his part, State Programme Officer of The Challenge Initiative Yakubu Abubakar, expressed delight at the availability of commodities, saying “Child birth spacing promotes economic development because the cost of managing pregnancy and delivery is expensive.”
Executive Director of Saif Foundation Alhassan Yahya, while commending the collaboration between the Gombe and UNFPA described the procurement of commodities as justification of his organisation’s advocacy meetings.
Yahya, who doubles as Chairman Advocacy Working Group on Family Planning said, “Today, is a justification that we have done out jobs very well. We conducted series if advocacies, what we are seeing is product of that work. Gombe is doing well with 17 per cent Contraceptive Prevalence Rate considering where we are coming from which is four per cent. But our unmet need is still high at 16 per cent.”
