OYO GOVT BOOSTS FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES, STRENGTHENS OWNERSHIP

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening family planning services, increasing government ownership and ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery across the state.

The commitment was reaffirmed at the Oyo State Bi-Annual Stakeholders Coordination Meeting organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Health and the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH), at Jogor Hotel, Liberty Road, Ibadan.

The meeting focused on strengthening family planning integration, government ownership and accountability under SWAp/MAMII at the state and local government levels.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the changing funding landscape had made it necessary for government to strengthen its institutions and take greater responsibility for sustaining essential health programmes.

Dr. Olatunji disclosed that the state invested N50 million in family planning commodities in 2025 and had earmarked another N50 million for 2026 to ensure the sustained availability of essential commodities and prevent disruptions in service delivery.

He also disclosed that the state had recruited nearly 4,000 healthcare personnel to strengthen the health workforce and improve service delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level.

He added that Ward Development Committees across the state’s 351 political wards were being leveraged to promote community participation and increase awareness of family planning services.

Representing the ALGON Chairman, Oyo State Chapter, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Olayanju Kazeem, called for increased awareness of family planning among women and families.

He stressed the importance of providing accurate information to enable individuals to make informed decisions, particularly in view of prevailing economic realities.

The Iya Loja of Ibadan Land, Alhaja Risiwa Oyinlola Amiringun, also called for sustained sensitisation and training of market women on family planning, noting that inadequate information and limited literacy could affect women’s understanding and utilisation of available services.

During a presentation on the Society for Family Health and Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) 2.0 interventions, members of the DISC team, Mrs. Paulina Adeyemi, Mr. Afeez Tijani and Mrs. Oluwabunmi Olajide, disclosed that more than 1,000 healthcare workers from 573 health facilities had been trained on family planning and counselling for choice.

The team said the training equipped healthcare workers with the knowledge to address myths and misconceptions about family planning methods and provide accurate information to clients. They added that providers were also trained to counsel clients on possible menstrual bleeding changes associated with some methods.

The DISC team further disclosed that Community Health Extension Workers, community mobilisers and Ward Development Committees had been equipped with family planning messages to strengthen awareness and demand creation.

They added that local government monitoring and evaluation officers had also received training to improve data quality, reporting and accountability.

An assessment presented at the meeting showed that Oyo State recorded 65.2 per cent institutional readiness for family planning, while nine local government areas had incorporated key activities into their routine programmes.

Ibarapa North, Saki West and another local government area were, however, identified as requiring further strengthening.

The stakeholders, comprising government representatives, local government authorities, development partners, community structures and healthcare workers, reviewed progress and identified areas requiring further attention.

They stressed the need for stronger coordination, sustained investment and effective community engagement, noting that family planning should remain an integral part of the state’s primary healthcare system through adequate commodities, quality counselling, community participation, reliable data and accountability.