As the coronavirus continue to ravage Bauchi State, the pandemic has reduced the chances of women of reproductive age from accessing child birth spacing services in the state.
WikkiTimes reports that some facilities in the state were not supplied with the necessary medical consumables that will allow women of reproductive age access family planning services with ease.
Mariya Munkaila, the maternity in-charge of family planning at Magama Gumau, Toro LGA of the state, told newsmen that although the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the turnout of women requesting family planning services, lack of consumables however, remains a challenge.
She said the facility at Magama Gumau has not received oral pills, implanon and other necessary items required for family planning services.
Anna Bala, the facility In-Charge of Magama Gumau said contrary to their expectations, the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the turnout of family planning patients requesting services, but regretted that the facility is lacking in some of the medical consumables.
She said the facility with the help of Ward Development Committees has not relented on its resolve to continue to mobilize women for family planning services, hence the turnout.
Anna Bala also called on the state government to provide personal protective equipment for frontline health workers in Bauchi state, as doing so will embolden them to perform their duties and reduce their vulnerability to contracting the virus.
At another facility in Nabordo, the story of inadequate consumables remains the same.
Fatima Danmallam, the Officer In-charge of the facility said lack of medical consumables at the facility diminishes turnout of women of child bearing.
She said since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the facility faces stock out of family planning commodities.
“Our major challenge for now is that we completely don’t have family planning commodities”, she said.
She however called on the state government not to forget women of reproductive age during the cornavirus pandemic, as doing so will exacerbate unwanted pregnancies.
