UNFPA and Norwegian Government Boost Family Planning Services with Renovated Facility in Rigasa, Kaduna

Abdullahi Abdullahi 

Kaduna, June 24, 2024 - The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria has officially commissioned a newly renovated primary healthcare facility at Miyetti Allah PHC in Rigasa, Kaduna. This significant renovation project, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Norwegian government, aims to enhance family planning services for women in the area.

The Northwest Regional Coordinator, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria Mrs. Elizabeth Joe highlighted the comprehensive support provided by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), which included supplying office equipment following the facility’s demarcation and upgrading. 

“We trained health service providers from ten facilities last year and conducted advocacy visits to key stakeholders, such as traditional and religious leaders. This laid the groundwork for the renovation we are commissioning today,” she explained.

Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, Mrs. Joe called on local residents to take ownership of the facility to ensure its sustainability and protection against vandalism. “This facility belongs to the community. 

Our role is to facilitate the collaboration between government and other partners to improve healthcare services for women. I urge the women in this area to take full advantage of the upgraded facility,” she said.

Mrs. Joe expressed gratitude to UNFPA and the Norwegian government for their crucial support in expanding healthcare access. She detailed PPFN’s long-standing commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Nigeria. 

Since its establishment in 1960, PPFN has consistently addressed critical health issues, such as unwanted pregnancies, child abandonment, and unsafe abortions, with a focus on adolescent reproductive health, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and aid for individuals displaced by natural disasters or conflicts.

Representing the Executive Director of PPFN at the ceremony, Ibrahim Balogun reiterated the importance of the project. He thanked UNFPA, the Norwegian government, and the Kaduna State government for creating an enabling environment for PPFN’s efforts.

Balogun explained that the project, supported by the Norwegian government through UNFPA, involves upgrading primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in selected local government areas in Kaduna. “We have started with ten PHCs, upgrading them to support the delivery of child spacing and family planning services,” he noted.

The Director of Health for Igabi Local Government Area, Salamatu Balarabe, and the Reproductive Health Coordinator for Kaduna North, Mary Madaki, both underscored the critical role of family planning and child spacing in improving public health. 

They expressed gratitude to PPFN for its assistance, particularly in the current socio-economic climate.

“Family planning and child spacing are essential components of healthcare, especially now. This upgraded facility will significantly benefit our community,” Balarabe stated.

PPFN’s vision and mission emphasize providing high-impact, technology-oriented education, training, services, and needs-driven research to empower individuals to succeed in the workplace. 

The organization upholds core values such as academic excellence, innovation, dedication to duty, integrity, accountability, transparency, meritocracy, leadership, mentorship, and social responsibility.

The commissioning of the renovated Miyetti Allah PHC in Rigasa represents a collaborative effort to enhance healthcare services in Kaduna. Mrs. Joe's message to the community encapsulates the project's spirit: “This facility is a beacon of hope for many women in this community. 

It represents our collective effort to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances.”

With continued support from UNFPA, the Norwegian government, and other stakeholders, the future of healthcare in Kaduna looks promising. 

This initiative serves as a model for similar projects across Nigeria, demonstrating the impact of effective partnerships and community engagement in improving public health services.