The Society for Family Health (SFH) has identified shortages of essential commodities, service delivery tools and provider training resources as major factors limiting the quality of family planning services in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

SFH Project Coordinator, Dr Eze Nwokoma, disclosed this following facility assessments conducted by the organisation in the two states. He said the findings revealed urgent gaps in critical commodities and resources needed to strengthen family planning services and improve reproductive health outcomes.

According to Nwokoma, the assessments highlighted the need for additional service delivery commodities, high-end insertion kits for trained providers, anatomical models for continuous skills development, and improved data collection tools to enhance reporting.

In response to the identified gaps, Nwokoma said SFH supplied a comprehensive package of family planning materials to the governments of Abia and Akwa Ibom states to improve service delivery. The materials include high-end insertion kits, procedure kits, pelvic training models, family planning registers, monthly summary forms, provider training manuals and family planning kits.

He explained that the resources would support the delivery of quality family planning services, strengthen routine data collection and reporting, and facilitate continuous on-the-job mentoring of healthcare providers.

According to him, the intervention is also expected to ensure that health facilities remain equipped to provide safe, high-quality family planning services beyond the project implementation period.

Nwokoma said the materials were formally received by the Commissioners for Health and other senior government officials in both states on behalf of their respective administrations.

He noted that the state governments commended SFH for its sustained partnership, saying the intervention would enhance the capacity of healthcare workers and support efforts to expand access to reproductive health services.

The project coordinator added that both states reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the gains of the collaboration and creating an enabling environment for future partnerships in the health sector.
Describing the intervention as more than the provision of equipment, Nwokoma said it represents an investment in stronger health systems and healthier communities across the two states.

He added that by providing tools for continuous capacity building and strengthening routine data management systems, SFH is helping to build a resilient and sustainable family planning programme.

“The long-term impact will be seen in increased access to quality contraceptive services, better-informed reproductive health choices, fewer preventable maternal deaths, and improved health outcomes for women and families,” he said.

Nwokoma stressed that the initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between governments and development partners in advancing universal access to quality family planning services across Nigeria.