NGO Advocates Dedicated Budget Line for Family Planning Commodities in Katsina

An NGO is pressing the Katsina State Government to allocate a specific budget for family planning supplies, citing a decrease in donor support for reproductive health initiatives nationwide. Access to Medicines Initiative (AMI) believes a dedicated budget line is crucial for ensuring the consistent availability of these essential commodities and enhancing maternal healthcare across the state.

Dr. Musa Abdullahi Sufi, AMI's National Focal Person, emphasized this need during a workshop in Katsina focused on state-funded procurement of family planning items. The workshop, themed 'Strengthening Government Ownership and Sustainable Financing for Improved Access to Childbirth Spacing Commodities in Katsina State,' was organized by the state Ministry of Health with support from AMI and Sustainable Innovation and Development Solutions (SIDES).

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We want the Katsina State Government to create and protect a dedicated budget line for family planning commodities and ensure timely and complete release of the allocated funds.

Sufi, who also founded SIDES, explained that a dedicated budget would secure adequate funding for procurement and distribution, reduce reliance on external donors, and bolster reproductive health services. He stressed the importance of timely fund release once the budget line is established, noting that insufficient domestic financing is a significant barrier to accessing family planning commodities in many health facilities.

The Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, affirmed the government's commitment to improving funding for childbirth spacing commodities. He highlighted the workshop's role in institutionalizing sustainable financing for family planning and enhancing maternal and child health, reiterating the administration's dedication to healthcare improvements through increased investment in primary and maternal/child health services.

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Enforce fully transparent, standardized procurement processes, mandate data-driven decision making, and commit to zero avoidable stockouts across all facilities in the state.