A two-day stakeholders’ meeting on family planning in Taraba State, has called for the timely release of funds to sustain reproductive health services and uphold individuals’ rights to family planning.
The event, organized by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in collaboration with the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, was held at the conference hall of the Taraba AIDS Control Agency (TACA).
Partners, media representatives and officials from line ministries, among others, emphasized the need for an efficient and transparent funding process
The stakeholders while urging the Taraba State Government to prioritize family planning services, stressed that addressing delays in funds disbursement would yield significant benefits, including reducing unintended pregnancies, improving women’s health, and driving socio-economic development.
In addition to timely funding, stakeholders demanded transparency in the allocation and disbursement of family planning funds.
They also advocated for accountability mechanisms to track and report family planning funds usage, just as they stressed the need for media practitioners to play a proactive role in ensuring the release of allocated funds in line with the state budget.
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The group who also urged the state government to adhere to budget timelines to prevent disruptions to family planning services, said regular updates on funds disbursement will enhance transparency and enable effective planning.
The stakeholders further highlighted the potential role of partnering with relevant organizations to strengthen funding for family planning programs, particularly when funding from the state government is delayed.
The stakeholders further observed that despite the establishment of a dedicated annual budget line for family planning several years ago, no funds have been released to date.
They called for immediate action to reverse the ongoing trend and ensure the effective implementation of family planning programs in the state.
