REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

To reduce the occurrence of non-communicable diseases through targeted awareness campaigns, preventive interventions, and lifestyle modification programs in the community.

The health situation in Bauchi state is a true reflection of the general health situation in Nigeria. Available statistics show that Bauchi state is one of the states with very poor health indices and a closer scrutiny will reveal that these data are sometimes higher than national average. The health situation in the state is characterized by high maternal mortality (1500-1000 per 100,000 live births) infant mortality (79/1000 live births) and under five maternal mortality (107/1000 live births), medium level HIV&AID prevalence (3.1%-2008) and low life expectancy (44years). The current situation is explained by inadequate access to information and services, weak health systems, non implementation of existing health and related policies and plans inadequate funding, waek infrastructure, inadequate human resources, uneven distribution of facilities and manpower, poor quality of service amongst others. Bauchi is also one of the states with very low contraceptive prevalence of 2%. This account for high fertility rate among women and large family sizes. There are issues relating to religion and socio- cultural factors that affect the delivery and utilization of health services. As a result, access to health services especially in rural areas is poor.

The situation has been further compounded by the burden of HIV&AIDS considering that the dimension introduced by HIV&AIDS will further over-stretch weak health infrastructure and manpower. For instance, it has been documented that the number of PLWHA and OVC are on the increase, probably due to increase in the number of uptake of HCT services and thus disclosing their status. Bauchi state is one of the few states that have launched and providing the free maternal and child health care services in response to the challenge of high maternal, infant and child mortality and morbidity in the state. One of the services available under the program is HIV screening especially at ANC clinics.

Available record shows the various attempts made by the successive administrations in the state at addressing all challenges associated with HIV&AIDS through well articulated policies and plans and providing the needed resources (though inadequate)for their effective implementation. Also institutions (agencies and committees)are being created while the government is collaborating with donors and development partners to strengthen the response HIV&AIDS in the state. In addition, HIV&AIDs information and services are being integrated into existing health services at all levels of health care .HIV&AIDs is also being included in the curriculum of the various state health institutions including school of nursing, midwifery and health technology. Resources (technical, financial, materials etc) are also being mobilized to strengthen response to HIV&AIDs, Malaria and Tuberculosis. There is therefore, the need for intensified effort at increasing access to information services relating to safe motherhood, environmental cleanliness, safe water, immunization, reproductive health, family planning, HIV&AIDs, malaria and tuberculosis through a combination of clinical and non clinical outlets.