Women in Jigawa State have expressed their concerns over the unavailability of family planning services at health facilities across the State.

They raised the concern at the budget review for family planning organized by the Jigawa Maternal and Accountability Forum (JIMAF) supported by Women’s Integrated Services for Health WISH held at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse.

Malama Hauwa, one of the participants, stated that due to the higher level of FP awareness campaign, the demand had increased, resulting in shortages of the commodity across the State.

She explained that most women are resorting to Private Patent Medical Vendors for the services, thereby increasing the chances of maternal mortality in the State.

Halima, another participant, said women in Jigawa State were no longer going to hospitals for family planning due to its scarcity.

She called on the state government to consider yearly increases in family planning allocation and releases to cater for the needs of 13 per cent of women of reproductive health who require the service.

Earlier while presenting the budget analysis, a resource person, Isah Mustapha said the scarcity of the commodity was associated with inadequate budgetary provision and releases for many years.

According to him, “from 2016 to 2019, there was no budgetary provision for family planning, while in 2020 – N10m, 2021 – N20m, 2022 – N20m and 2023 – N35m was allocated to family planning.

“No release in 2020, N7.628m in 2021, N23m in 2022, and no release in the second quarter of 2023.”