By Halima Idris
A Bauchi based Civil Society Organisations, ASHH Foundation has officially launched a partnership with Plan International Aspire Project funded by Global Affairs Canada to advance Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the Dass Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State.
The Executive Director of ASHH Foundation Ambassador Comfort Attah disclosed this to our correspondent at a sensitization activity saying, that the collaboration is aim to empower local communities by addressing critical issues related to family planning, maternal health, and comprehensive sexuality education.
She said that as part of the initial phase of the initiative, ASHH Foundation organized sensitization workshops across five communities, engaging 50 influential leaders. The participants included traditional rulers, women leaders, and youth leaders, all of whom were trained on SRHR topics.
According to Attah, the goal of the sensitization is to equip these leaders with the knowledge to make informed decisions and raise community awareness on vital SRHR issues such as contraceptive use, maternal care, and comprehensive sexuality education.
During the sensitization, Hajiya Hasiya Abubakar, the education secretary of Dass LGA, lauded the Global Affairs Canada funded Plan International Aspire Project for partnering with Ashh Foundation which described as timely.
She highlighted how the initiative will address pressing SRHR challenges and called for additional support, particularly in the provision of sanitary pads for girls and women.
Abubakar emphasized that the intervention could play a crucial role in reducing maternal and child mortality in the region.
Community leaders who participated in the sensitization committed to advocating for policy reforms and driving behavioral changes that would promote the health and rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls.
A renowned community leader.
Mallam Abdullahi Iliyasu, also appreciated Plan International Aspire project/ Global Affairs Canada in partnering with ASHH Foundation for this intervention and noted that his knowledge on SRHR has greatly improved as a result of the sensitization.
He assured ASHH Foundation and its donor, Plan International, that they will do their best to ensure this knowledge is cascaded down to their communities.
The SRHR initiative is supported by PLAN International Aspire Project funded by Global Affairs Canada.