By Philip Yatai
The Kaduna State Government says its partnership with the UNFPA toward improving maternal and reproductive health is waxing stronger.
Mr Jamilu Ladan, the UNFPA State Sub-Implementing Partner Coordinator at the state’s Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Sunday.
Ladan, who is a Programme Officer at PBC, said that the cordial relationship between UNFPA and the state government on maternal health has been growing stronger and creating huge impact on the lives of beneficiaries.
He explained that a total of 23 activities on reproductive and maternal health issues were planned for the third quarter of 2023.
He added that 18 of the activities have been delivered as at Sept. 30, representing 78.2 per cent performance.
Of the N52 million programmed for the third quarter, N42 million has been disbursed to the sub-implementing partners, he added.
“As I am talking right now, funds are being utilised and the financial implementation is 100 per cent for quarter three and 75 per cent compared with the annual budget performance.
“Some of the key interventions implemented in quarter three centred around maternal and reproductive health, Gender-Based Violence, as well as the coordination component domiciled at PBC.”
Ladan, however, said that the transition phase affected the delivery of some of the planned activities, adding that not much was done in quarter one and quarter three.
He said that in spite of the challenge, quite a number of activities to improve maternal health were conducted, including surgeries for fistula patients at the Fistula Centre in Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria.
He added that several demand creation activities and awareness creation were conducted with support from UNFPA.
According to him, the demand creation activities have yielded significant result following the increase in the number of people seeking maternal health related services in communities leading to unmet demands.
“We have also procured quite a number of life-saving maternal drugs, particularly for pregnant mothers, for distribution in health facilities.
“We have done part of the distribution, while some of the drugs were stored in storage facilities of the State Primary Health Care Board.”
On coordination, the state IP said that the working synergy among project implementing partners has been very effective.
The Head of Office, UNFPA Kaduna Sub-Office, Ms Loide Amkongo, also told NAN that effective coordination of the interventions would address duplication of efforts and maximise the available resources from the various partners. (NAN)
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By Philip Yatai
The UNFPA has commended the Kaduna State Government for the commitment toward ending unmet needs for family planning services, curbing preventable maternal death and ending Gender-Based violence (GBV).
The Head of Office, UNFPA Kaduna Sub-Office, Ms Loide Amkongo, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Sunday.
Amkongo said that the commitment was in line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2022 to 2025, hinged on three transformative results.
She identified the transformative results as contributing to ending unmet needs for family planning services, contributing to preventable maternal death, and ending GBV.
“These transformative results are being achieved in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Gombe and Bauchi states, under the Kaduna Sub-Office.
“I have seen the commitment of the Kaduna State Government, along with other states, on the discussion table.
“Government officials are there, chairing various technical working groups and fully understanding the willingness to take actions for the needed results.
“From our engagements with the state governments and commissioners in the various states, UNFPA is optimistic of achieving the transformative results.”
On ending unmet needs for family planning, the head of office said many countries, including Nigeria, are facing difficulties.
She pointed out that women want to use family planning commodities but there were issues of access due to unavailability, shortage of commodities and other barriers.
She said UNFPA is working primarily with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to ensure that adequate family planning choices are available for women to access.
This, according to her, will help to prevent unwanted pregnancy and provide the needed opportunity to plan their facilities.
“We are working closely with the state government to ensure that it strengthens its commitments to family planning.
“Kaduna State, like Gombe State, has already domesticated the Family Planning Guidelines and is ready to procure family planning commodities. That is being done.
“Our role is advocacy to ensure that more partners are working, and the state plays a critical role to fund the procurement of the commodities,” she said.
Amkongo added that UNFPA is also working with social society organisations and youth groups to ensure that people understood the need to demand for services being provided.
She regretted that religious and cultural practices were hampering the use of family planning.
“We are working with religious and community leaders to sensitise people on the importance of family planning, particularly to the economic development of women, their families, and the country at large.”
The head of office equally said that UNFPA, in partnership with the Kaduna State Government, was doing a lot of work that contribute to preventable maternal deaths.
“These include maternal death review and surveillance processes and capacity building of healthcare workers and doctors, among other interventions, and ensuring that certain procedures take place.
“We are working on advocacy, knowledge management and capacity building, both at individual and institutional levels.
“This is ensuring that people understand basic comprehensive emergency and obstetric essential services.
“The programme for fistula is tied to family planning and equally tied to preventable maternal death.
“For us, it is critical to prevent unplanned pregnancy and ensure that women access ante natal care and hospital delivery to prevent fistula, but when it does occur, we are providing repair services and psychosocial support.”
On GBV, Amkongo said UNFPA had been contributing toward ending the menace in Kaduna and other states, adding that the UN body had also been working with various partners, including groups of women advocating for their rights.
She added that the Fund had been working with a multisectoral group of ministries of justice, health, the police, and other security agencies.
“This is to ensure that as much as we attend to GBV survivors, the perpetrators are also brought to book, and we are implementing relevant laws that are there to prevent women from abuse,” she said.
She reaffirmed UNFPA’s technical support and commitment to the government, particularly in the three transformative results.
She identified financial and human resources as critical to achieving significant results, and expressed optimism that the state government would come through with its financial commitment. (NAN)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
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By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
A popular Kannywood Actress, Mansurah Isah has urged parents and caregivers to allow their girls get the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine to save them from cervical and other forms of cancers.
The Kano-born actress, script writer and producer made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, in Abuja.
The mother of four said she recently took her only biological daughter to get the HPV Vaccine, adding that, this is the first time that such vaccine is given free of charge.
According to her, some years ago, the Vaccine cost between N40,000 to N60,000.
“So I want to use this opportunity as an actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and philanthropist to urge people to know that HPV Vaccine is free and our girls, ladies and women should go out there and get it.
“The reason why it is important to have the vaccine is to help prevent Cervical Cancer which in Hausa we call it ‘Cutar Sankarar Mahaifa,” she said.
“Please, let us save ourselves, our daughters and mothers. My friend’s grandmother was recently diagnosed of Cervical cancer and it is not a joke at all.
“With this, I once again urge all ladies and women out there to go and get the vaccine. It is free. You don’t have to pay for it,” Isah stressed.
On HPV leading to infertility, the movie star said all those misconception of infertility is fake news. It is propaganda by people who want the system to give them money to campaign for them.
“Please, don’t listen to negative propaganda, save yourselves; save our girls and their future by allowing them to get the HPV Vaccine,” Isah reiterated.
She said that her daughter just got the HPV Vaccine, adding that she directed them to video her daughter while taking the vaccine.
“I did it so that people will know that, if I will allow my only biological daughter to take the Vaccine, then they should not be afraid to do same.
“It is not only my biological daughter, I have three adopted girls. Before coming to Abuja, I directed them to go to the nearest health centre and get the HPV vaccine.
The ‘Fanan’; ‘Akeela’ and ‘Fate of Alakada’ Kannywood movie star also narrated the issue of Polio vaccination.
She said: “I remember during the Polio vaccine campaigns, some people refused their children to be vaccinated, today those children have become cripple and are suffering from disability.
“Those children, who are now adults always say they will never forgive their parents and grandparents for not allowing them to be vaccinated against Polio because of misconception,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Sadiya Hamza
