United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bauchi State to reduce maternal mortality and strengthen reproductive healthcare through sustained collaboration with the state government.
The UNFPA reproductive health specialist and officer-in-charge of the Kaduna sub-office, Dr Audu Alayande, gave the assurance during an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination yesterday.
Alayande said UNFPA is providing family planning commodities valued at N50 million to the state to improve access to quality reproductive health services. He said the intervention forms part of the organisation’s broader commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths, expanding access to reproductive healthcare, and addressing gender-based violence.
He also commended the state government for providing an enabling environment that has facilitated the successful implementation of UNFPA-supported programmes across the state.
Responding, the state commissioner for budget, economic planning and multilateral coordination, Hajiya Amina Katagum, expressed appreciation for UNFPA’s continued support, describing the partnership as critical to improving maternal and child health outcomes in Bauchi.
She said the ministry is working closely with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of all UNFPA-supported interventions.
Katagum acknowledged that funding cuts by some international development partners, including the United States, have created challenges for the health sector.
However, she assured that the Bauchi State Government is complementing the efforts of its development partners by deploying available resources to sustain essential health services.
She further pledged the ministry’s continued support to ensure the successful implementation of UNFPA programmes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women and children across the state.
