The Bauchi government says it has expanded the number of family planning service delivery points from 610 to 713 to enhance access to quality reproductive health services in the state.

Sani M Dambam, health commissioner, said this during the handing over of family planning commodities donated under the UNFPA/Children’s Investment Fund Foundation grant on Sunday in Bauchi.

Mr Dambam said the measure would enable women to safely space births and reduce maternal health risks. He said the demand for family planning services remained high, adding that the newly supplied commodities would address persistent stock-out challenges in health facilities.

Mr Dambam said the supplies would enable couples to have better access to family planning services and help to tackle the recurring issue of stock-outs. He commended the UNFPA for its support towards reducing maternal mortality and strengthening reproductive health services, especially in hard-to-reach communities.

The commissioner noted that recent disruptions in the availability of the commodities, occasioned by the withdrawal of USAID support, served as a wake-up call for the state to take greater leadership in ensuring sustainability.

Muriel Mafico, UNFPA country representative, said the supply was part of a national procurement initiative funded by CIFF to strengthen reproductive health services.

Ms Mafico said the commodities donated included 138,072 doses of Sayana Press and 10,908 units of Implanon NXT. She said UNFPA donated family planning commodities to the state government in July 2025, in recognition of the state government’s commitment to the National Guidelines for State-Funded Procurement of FP Commodities.

She said the UNFPA and CIFF recently signed an 18-month (2025–2026) agreement to procure additional quality-assured family planning commodities for seven priority states, including Bauchi.

According to her, the initiative aims to reduce unmet needs, promote demographic transition and encourage increased domestic financing of reproductive health services.

The UNFPA official commended the state government for its commitment to achieve its transformative goals to end unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, eliminate gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Also, Abdulkadir Ahmed, managing director of the Bauchi State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency, pledged to ensure the effective storage and delivery of the commodities to the designated facilities.

He said UNFPA also supported the agency in conducting an assessment of the needs of the state’s 2026-2028 family planning commodities. 

(NAN)