..….as MSI shares WISH project’s successes, lessons
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi State Government has reiterated it’s commitment for the provision of improved reproductive healthcare services across all health facilities.
Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir stated this on Tuesday 26th March 2024, at a dissemination meeting held at the banquet hall of Bauchi Government House
The dissemination meeting was organized by Marie Stopes International (MSI) Reproductive Choices, a UK Aid supported health interventions, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, to share their key successes, lessons learnt and challenges in the implementation of it’s Women Integrated Service for Health (WISH) Extension Project in Bauchi State.
Governor Bala Mohammed said WISH project represents a significant step forward in ensuring that every woman in Bauchi State has access to high quality sexual and reproductive health services.
“The implementation of this project underscores our commitment to excellence in reproductive healthcare intervention. Through implementing rigorous quality assurance measures, we can ensure that all family planning services provided in our State meet the highest standard of safety, effectiveness, and patient-centered care”, said the Governor.
Represented by the secretary to the State Government Barrister Ibrahim Kashim, Governor Mohammed said that in order to avert periodic stock-out of FP commodities, the State Government has continued to provide FP commodities to over 600 health facilities across the State with support from implementing partners.
Other concerted effort by the State Government according to the Governor, was the Increased FP budgetary allocation from 75 Million Naira in 2023 to 120 Million Naira in 2024 to support extensive training, awareness creation and supportive supervision.
Governor Bala Mohammed then commended Marie Stopes International Reproductive Choices for the interventions and also pledged sustainability of best practices in that direction.
Country Director of MSI Reproductive Choice Emmanuel Ajah, while giving an overview of the WISH Project, said that one of the landmark achievement of the Project was the formation and training of a sound Quality Assurance (QAT) Team that are responsible for training service providers at health facilities and also ensuring that such services are provided in an attractive and friendly manner to clients.
Ajah also added, that part of the Project’s key achievements include: Transitioning of 25 health facilities to Government ownership, Strengthening data management and use, for informed decision making and Advocacy plan developed for the State.
Other achievements according the Country Director of MSION Reproductive Choices was the development and dissemination of training manual on public financial management in the public sector, and Canvassing provisioned budget line for family planning services in the annual state budget.
Earlier in a welcome remark, Bauchi State Commissioner of health Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo informed the gathering that, Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH) project is another demonstration of Bauchi State Government’s open-door policy and commitment to partnerships that lead to the development of people.
Dr. Sambo said that The MSI Nigeria WISH project tends to address gaps in knowledge and access to contraception, STI prevention, and other reproductive health needs.
He enumerated some of the WISH program to include: Comprehensive Services that focuses on family planning, maternal health care, post-abortion care, and services for adolescents.
The Commissioner said that other areas of intervention are centered around improving access for reproductive health to women and girls across Nigeria and providing mentorship on Quality of Care, ensuring that services are delivered with expertise and sensitivity amongst other interventions.