Adolescents account for more than half of those seeking family planning services at the Babban Dodo Primary Healthcare Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Mrs Halima Mato, head of the facility’s Family Planning Unit, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that 190 of the 396 clients who sought family planning services in October were adolescents.
She went on to say that 419 people used the services in November, with 221 of them being mostly adolescent girls (52.7 percent).
“Most of the time, they arrive in the evening, after most people have left the healthcare center to access the facility.”
“People shied away from family planning two years ago due to misconceptions and other cultural beliefs, but patronage has increased over the years as a result of massive sensitization and awareness campaigns.”
“This is assisting in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and preventable deaths due to unsafe abortion,” she said.
A NAN correspondent who monitored access to health services in accordance with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) observed a large number of people using the facility’s health services.
Hajiya Adama Aliyu, the facility’s Officer-in-Charge, attributed the increased demand for family planning services to the facility’s availability of solutions.
Aliyu praised the state government for upgrading the facility as part of its “One functional Primary Healthcare Centre per political ward” initiative, which aims to ensure that everyone has access to needed health care at an affordable price.
“This is the fundamental premise of universal health coverage as a key priority and guiding principle for the global health agenda.”
“The main idea is that access to health and family planning services is a human right that should be available to everyone,” she explained.
Mr Farouk Abdulkadir, Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator at the Gates Advocacy Project, an NGO, also praised the Kaduna State government for its efforts to improve access to quality health care in line with universal health coverage.
According to Abdulkadir, the project, which is being implemented by Save the Children International and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will help the government strengthen the health system and increase access.
On December 12, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.
As an essential priority for international development, the goal is for everyone, everywhere to have access to high-quality, low-cost health care.
As a result, every December 12th, UHC advocates raise their voices to share the stories of millions of people who are still waiting for healthcare, while also taking stock of progress made thus far.
Advocates also use the day to urge governments to make larger and more strategic investments in health care.
They also encourage people from all walks of life to make pledges to help bring the world closer to UHC by 2030.