The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it will scale-up access to Hormonal Intrauterine Device (HIUD), a reversible contraceptive device to promote expanded contraceptive method of family planning.
Dr Stella Nwosu, Director, Family Health Department in the ministry, made this known in Abuja at the close out and dissemination workshop of the completion of the Catalytic Opportunity Fund HIUD project.
Nwosu, represented by Alex Ugochukwu, Head of Logistics and Services, Family Planning Unit in the ministry, said the project has encouraged lots of families to embrace the HIUD contraceptive method.
“This project has done a lot in repositioning family planning in the country, most especially in two states- Bauchi and Sokoto, especially HIUD; it is for the client to choose.
“I want to believe there is no bias because when we are preaching HIUD there should be censored bias.
“Balanced counseling is the way so I applaud everyone that is here for this particular occasion. They have done so well.
“On behalf of the ministry we’ll continue to support you,’’ she said.
She also commended EngenderHealth, the implementers of the HIUD project for its commitment to improve maternal and Sexual Reproductive Services (SRH) in the country.
Dr Kabiru Atta, Country Representative, EngenderHealth, said the nine-month old $250,000 HIUD project aimed at promoting expanded contraceptive method mix in Bauchi and Sokoto States.
Atta revealed that 46 health workers from 44 facilities in HIUD service delivery were trained to cascade it down to 230 healthcare providers in Bauchi and Sokoto.
He added that the project provided HIUD insertion kits and provided anatomical models to secondary health facilities to support increased service demand in facilities.
He said the organisation also advocated for additional government funding and successfully secured budget allocation in Sokoto and Bauchi States for fiscal year 2024 to support commodity availability and retraining of healthcare providers.
Atta said Bauchi State Government doubled the budget for family planning, increasing allocation from N75 million in 2023 to N150 million in 2024.
While Sokoto tripled it from N10 million in 2023 to N30 million in 2024.
“So I think one of the successes of this project is the fact that we are able to get Bauchi and Sokoto States to commit funding to procure commodities, which is really one of the biggest issues we face in the family planning space in Nigeria.
“So with these budgetary commitments, we are hoping for a full long phase where we can actually support them using a recently released guideline that supports procurement of family planning commodities.
“We can support the states, mentor them and hopefully get their procurement system in place to be able to procure these commodities themselves,’’ he said.
Also, Dr Adamu Sambo, Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, commended the project and its implementers.
“This project was very impactful and successful in Bauchi State as women started accepting the HIUD to save lives and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
“This has enabled the state to have good planning and has reduced our indices on those who have refused to have family planning,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)