By Ismail Auwal
As part of efforts to strengthen the implementation of family planning programs in Kano State, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative organised a one day high-level engagement for all relevant stakeholders in the sector.
The meeting themed promoting family planning financing in Kano State was attended by government officials working in family planning and reproductive health, CSOs, media, and family planning focal persons was supported by Population Reference Bureau (PRB).
At the forefront of the meeting, deliberation was the overview of the “Youth Family Planning Scorecard“, Open dialogue in youth lived experiences surrounding the indicator topics.
The meeting also updates the participants on the Family Planning finance in Kano, states on the new family planning policies, and how to improve implementation.
The CSO and focal persons have discussed the role of the citizen’s group in promoting FP financing in the state.
Musa Abdullahi Sufi, a leading expert in Family Planning in an interview with SAHELIAN TIMES commends the leadership of Kano State Government with regards to the financing of the FP services in state and also called for timely release of funds budgeted for the services.
“The state is funding its own annual operational plan budget, sometimes there are issues with releases, but they are other aspects the government is injecting it money, however, there is need for the government to double effort in terms of releasing fund from the state budget.”
Sufi also commends the government for giving development partners the enabling environment to operate.
“The government should also partner with the Federal Government to import Family Planing Commodities,” he added
The program coordinator, Maurine Alor said that, “in spite of the effort to make FP services cheap and available in the country, the rate of acceptance is still very low as many sexually active women are reluctant to embrace contraceptives.”
“The benefits of family planning are obvious. It allows women to space childbirth and replenishes vital nutrients lost during the process. It also allows the organs of mothers to return to normal,” Alor explained
The Reproductive and Family Planning Coordinator, in the state Dr. Aisha Faruq, in an interview said that the state has various means by which it finances FP in the state.
“There are various sources of funding for family planning in the state, we have a dedicated budget line for family planning in the state health budget, and then FP activities are being supported through saving one million lives, and health system strengthening program.”
