The Country Director of The Challenge Initiative Nigeria, Dr Taiwo Johnson, has lauded Gombe State Government for the political will to support family planning services across its medical facilities especially the procurement of commodities, urging for sustenance.
Johnson made this disclosure on Thursday during the state project dissemination meeting, with the theme; Gombe’s journey towards self-reliance and chronicles of sustainable impact at scale for reproductive health in the state.
Our correspondent reports that there was launching and dissemination of the chronicles of impact report, as well as the presentation of awards.
According to her, the reward for hard work is more work, stressing that other states would be learning from Gombe on its successful journey to increasing family planning uptake.
She said, “We want other states to learn from you even as Gombe State has shown they can sustain childbirth spacing on their own. We in TCI are not leaving Gombe State, but we are here to support you as you join our alumni. By joining the alumni, other activate states will be looking up to you to learn from your best practices. Sometimes, I wonder what has made Gombe State thick, it’s commendable, when I go to some other states I say Gombe is doing amazing.”
Emphasising on what the state should do to remain a learning point in family planning, “The first is continued funding, where you will say Gombe was the first state in Nigeria to provide commodities in childbirth spacing, it’s true and we want it sustained. It’s obvious that maternal mortality is already reducing and we look forward to the National Demographic Health Survey that is coming out soon. We expect Gombe to sustain high impact practices, we expect this commitment we are seeing today is sustained,” she added.
Also, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau, commended TCI’s various interventions urging them not to be far from the state when its calls.
Yahaya noted that TCI through its intervention has increased uptake of family planning in the state.
According to Yahaya, “lack of planning portends challenges and puts any society at risk, so the need for child planning to be embraced.”
While highlighting the importance of TCI’s project in Gombe, as a response to these challenges, he said “It’s on record that since the coming of this administration on May 29, 2019, the state is very interested in knowing the status of its population. Government will continue to provide enabling environment aimed at expanding child birth spacing and enhancing maternal health in the state.”
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health Habu Dahiru, while commending TCI said the dissemination marks an important milestone in the project.
He disclosed that before the inception of the project, “the uptake of child spacing commodities was discouraging but TCI’s supports have strengthened the health systems and increased patronage across health facilities,” he added.
On his part, Kojo Lokko, Executive Director of TCI, who spoke virtually during the occasion told the audience that Gombe State would remain a learning point for other states.
Lokko harped on the political will which he said was evident in the efforts of the Yahaya-led administration in providing commodities.
On her part, Rebeccah Maina, Chairperson TCI Media Working Group, during her remarks commended TCI, adding “Stakeholders should sustain the milestone achieved.”
•Maina with the plaque alongside L-R Chima Azubuike, William Attah, and Yunusa Kumo, representing some members of the Media Working Group.
Maina canvassed for continued funding of family planning activities, saying “it’s a strategy for sustaining the services.”
