Bauchi State Government has been urged to urgently consider timely releases of funds allocated to child birth spacing in the state.
State Programme Manager of The Challenge Initiative, Mrs Rabi Ekele said this at a Media Knowledge Attitude and Practice Exercise on Family Planning in Bauchi state, Organized by the Initiative in collaboration with Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria held at the NUJ Press Center Bauchi.
Mrs Rabi Ekele expressed optimism that timely releases of funds would enable the State Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency implement child birth spacing programmes beneficial to women and children.
WikkiTimes reports that Bauchi and Gombe states were known for poor and late releases of funds in the health sector—an omen many spectators argue has adverse effect on the sector.
Mrs. Rabi recalls that in the 2018 budget, about 190 million naira was allocated to family planning and child birth spacing, but regretted that the allocations were marred by inadequate releases.
On the recent resolved of the administration of Governor Bala Muhammad to declare state of emergency on health sector, the Programme Manager opined that without inclusion of child birth spacing, the move would not yield any positive results.
“I heard that the Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammad (Kauran Bauchi) has recently announced that he would declare state of emergency on the health sector, declaring state of emergency on health sector without inclusion of family planning and child birth spacing will not yield positive results and ensures productivity” She said.
The Challenge Initiative is providing technical support to Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency for effective implementation of child birth spacing intervention in the state.
She challenged the participants to focus attention towards ensuring that government carryout laudable programmes that would provide enabling environment for quality and affordable services of child birth spacing.
According to her, journalists being strategic partners in the campaign, needed to consider creating awareness on the importance of family planning as one of their priorities.
To this end, Rabi Ekele disclosed the Organization’s plans to conduct training for journalists as part of measures to ensure effective reporting on family planning and child birth spacing.
