By Philip Yatai
Kaduna, – UNFPA says it is working with the Kaduna State Government to improve access to Family Planning (FP), services for women and adolescents across the state.
Dr Audu Alayande, Assistant Representative, Reproductive Health, UNFPA Kaduna, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Alayande said that UNFPA was currently supporting the provision of FP and other reproductive health services in health facilities in the state.
“We provide family planning and lifesaving commodities in health facilities so that young people and other older age groups can access the services.
“We are working on increasing the range and availability of family planning commodities to marginalised groups in line with reproductive rights.
“UNFPA has supported a planning meeting with critical stakeholders and government agencies on the dissemination of the National Guidelines for State Procurement of Family Planning commodities.
“We equally supported the conduct of the Family Planning Advocacy Technical Working Group meeting attended by religious and traditional leaders, development partners and government agencies,” he said.
The official said that the deliberation was on the key challenges in the state FP procurement funding, FP 2030 commitments, last mile distribution and stock-out of contraceptives.
He said that the stakeholders have resolved to engage all avenues of government to address the challenge.
Alayande commended the state government for creating a budget line for FP, saying that UNFPA would continue to work with the government to ensure timely release of the funds to procure required commodities.
He also said that UNFPA was equally implementing an intervention in school to equip young people with adequate information about reproductive health before they leave school.
“We call it Family Health Education both at primary and secondary school level, so that students can access required information to face the future and the challenges of health and reproductive health.
“The messages are tailored to their level of education based on what they need to know at each level,” he added. (NAN)