Partnership Paves Way for Sustainable Family Planning Services in Yobe

 

The Yobe State Government has officially begun the transition to full ownership of a family planning program previously supported by The Challenge Initiative (TCI), with state officials highlighting a significant financial commitment and vastly improved healthcare worker capacity as key outcomes of the partnership.

This was made known Wednesday during a transition and dissemination meeting held by the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), and development partners, where health leaders detailed the program's journey from external support to state-led sustainability.

Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Health Care Board (YSPHCB), underscored the state's substantial investment, revealing that the successful partnership directly led to increased budgetary allocation. “Due to this, Yobe State budgeted 100 million Naira for family planning and has since released over 73 million Naira for implementation,” Dr. Machina stated. He credited TCI's guidance in grant management for this achievement, adding, “We are not yet there but we will get there with this support.”

He stated that the state will continue to release more funds until the goal is achieved, stressing that the partnership has fundamentally transformed the quality of service delivery across the state.

Alhaji Ibrahim Maikasuwa, Director of Community and Family Health Services, contrasted the challenging past with the present reality.

"Prior to TCI’s support, clients accessing services was an issue, and health workers' knowledge was inadequate. But with the full support of TCI, which provided avenues for training and capacity building, these people have become so knowledgeable and skillful, making very significant changes in the state," Maikasuwa explained.

He expressed confidence in the state’s ability to continue independently, stating, "I am very much conversant now with family planning. Even without TCI, the system will flow."

Dr. Philimon Yohanna Mamza, the Yobe State TCI Program Manager, celebrated the partnership's success and confirmed that TCI would remain a supportive partner to ensure a smooth handover.

Detailing the innovative approaches that led to success, Hajiya Mairo Hassan, the State Sexual Reproductive Health Coordinator, pointed to interventions like the Whole Site Orientation, which educates every staff member at a health facility.

She explained that even security personnel are fully aware of reproductive health services, adding, "I believe if TCI continues with their support, our modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) will shoot up to more than 15% in the next one or two years.”

The transition marks a critical step towards sustainable healthcare in Yobe, demonstrating a successful model where international partnership has built robust, local capacity for the long-term management of reproductive health services.