NEWS:“You can Always Count on State Planning Commission” Says the Executive Chairman State Planning Commission

By :Catherine Philip Jelani

This was disclosed by Mrs. Aisha Usman the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the State Planning Commission while delivering the Good Will message of Engr. Arin Lutu, the Executive Chairman of State Planning Commission.  She assured the Members of Reproductive Health as well as ADSPHCDA of the Commission’s readiness to render their support were it is necessary.

In an opening remark by the Director of Community Health Service ADSPHCDA Hajiya Hauwa Musa, said that a lot of attention has been shifted to life saving and maternal mortality and ADSPHCDA will not be an exception.  And that the quarterly meeting is funded and supported by UNFPA. She had encouraged members to make important contributions on issues that will sustain Reproductive Health in the state.

However, Dr Barminus Austin Gayus the Director of Planning, Research & Statistics represented the Executive Chairman of ADSPHCDA Dr. Abdullahi Dauda Bellel. He said that the meeting is a crucial one and therefore, members should feel free to make all the necessary contributions that will move the Programme forward.

Similarly, the State Programme Analyst of UNFPA Mr. Auwal Abubakar in his remarks said RH is a sub-sector working Sector working group. “This is the first meeting and it is for the formation of the working group, we are replicating what is happening all over the world” he said. He continued that in the health sector group, we have sub-sectors and RH is one of the sectors which falls directly under the Health Sector which is chaired by the State Ministry of Health, co chaired by WHO. He emphasized that that is how it is all over the world. 

However, he explained that in the national level, the Federal Ministry of Health is the chair and the WHO is a co chair. On the other hand, RH under the ADSPHCDA will be the chair and UNFPA the co chair. Lastly, he commended the ADSPHCDA for taking the lead and the ownership of the programme adding that UNFPA is ever ready to provide support were necessary be it technically or financially.

During the cause of the meeting, a lot of issues related to maternal mortality, family planning etc were raised and deliberated upon vehemently with all the involvement of the members.

Mrs. Gladys Dzarmah Director TC&SS of the State Planning Commission in her closing remarks appreciated the efforts of the entire members for making the meeting a success. She also commended the DPS of SPC Mrs Aisha Usman for her full participation in the meeting.