BY EBI NIEKETIEN
AS part of the Delta state government’s commitment to expanding access to family planning services, the state Ministry of Health recently took delivery of family planning commodities procured through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Items procured were 936 units of Implanon NXT, 6,000 units of Sayana Press, and 144,000 male condoms.
Handing over the commodities to the Ministry, the Head of Office and Programme Coordinator, UNFPA, Cross River Sub-Office, Dr. Andrew Kirima, said that they have had a long-term partnership with the Delta state government in the area of reproductive health as well as the elimination of gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
According to him, ‘’today’s event is the handing over of family planning commodities that has been procured by Delta State government. This handover symbolizes a deepening commitment by the Delta state government to improve family planning access and ensure the reproductive health rights of women and girls in this state.
‘’This follows the development and the launch of the state-funded procurement of family planning commodities in partnership with the federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria that was done in 2022.
‘’We have supported over eight states to facilitate procurement of FP commodities with the funding coming from the states themselves. As you know, donor funding in this area has been dwindling and it is now very important that states are coming in to fund it by themselves.
While extending gratitude to the state government for prioritizing family planning in their health agenda, he encouraged the government to continue mobilizing resources for more procurement and distribution to health facilities.
Receiving the Items, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mrs Philomena Okeowa, appreciated UNFPA for facilitating the procurement and hoped for more collaboration between them and the state.
In the same vein, the State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Dr. Weyinmi Frances, said family planning services and commodities were free of charge and were available on demand in every primary health care facility and some secondary health care facilities across the state.
Also, the Director, Public Health, in the Ministry, Dr. Tetsola Christain, said the procured items would bridge the gap and complement what the federal government was giving to the state, adding that the ministry would continue to collaborate with UNFPA to procure more commodities, improve the state’s family planning programme and organize capacity building for the service providers.
