By: Ibrahim Sani
Stakeholders Commit to DISC 2.0 as SFH Trains Community Resource Groups in Bauch
Stakeholders at the community orientation training organized by the Society for Family Health (SFH) in conjunction with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHC) have demonstrated their commitment to promoting and advocating for the Delivering Innovation in Self-care (DISC 2.0) project.
The orientation, held across 18 implementing local government councils in Bauchi State, drew various stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, Ward Development Committees (WDCs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), representatives of women’s support groups, people with disabilities, Mama2Mama, and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).
Auwal Muhammad Habu, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer for the SFH Delivering Innovation in Self-care 2.0 project, explained that the intervention aims to enhance individuals’ ability to manage their health through self-care practices, such as healthy behaviors, disease prevention, and management of minor ailments in low-income communities.
He stated that the orientation would equip participants with knowledge on how to expand access to essential self-care products, including contraceptives, menstrual health products, and over-the-counter medications, particularly for vulnerable populations. This, in turn, would support informed decision-making among husbands and wives.
The M&E Officer further revealed that the orientation aimed to sensitize women and mothers on child spacing and effective self-injection practices. Additionally, it sought to mobilize communities through outreach programs.
Habu emphasized that the DISC Family Planning (FP) strategies would improve maternal and child health through child spacing and reduced risky pregnancies. This would ultimately strengthen the health system in Bauchi State.
According to Habu, the DISC 2.0 initiative seeks to empower women to take advantage of educational and economic opportunities, improving their future and that of their children. It also aims to create an enabling environment and support demand generation activities at the community and local government levels.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Sulaiman Abdu Kirfi, Director of Primary Health Care in Bauchi Local Government, emphasized the benefits of child spacing contraceptives in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among families and communities. He noted that proper utilization of these services would improve health outcomes in the state.
Kirfi urged traditional and religious leaders to support the DISC 2.0 initiative by ensuring grassroots sensitization and informing their households about the benefits of child spacing for both husbands and wives. He commended SFH for introducing the self-injection method, which would reduce the need for women to visit health facilities for FP services.
The Director called for strategic male involvement in child spacing services, noting that WDCs and other community resource groups, such as Fathers for Good Health, play a vital role in championing the DISC 2.0 initiative in their communities. This, he said, would improve the health of mothers and children.
Other stakeholders present at the community orientation training included local government chairmen, supervisory councilors of health, M&E officers, and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) officials from each local government area in the state.
