Three of 10 Bauchi pregnant women deliver at home – UNICEF

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The Bauchi State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund have identified major gaps in the level of attention given to adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the state.

Speaking at a two-day media engagement on adolescents’ well-being held in Bauchi on Tuesday and Wednesday, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Dr Nazhat Rafique—represented by Health Officer Oluseyi Olosunde—reminded that the future of any nation depends on the foundation laid for its adolescents.

Thus, she urged governments at all levels to create specific budgetary provisions for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, warning that failure to invest in young people threatens the country’s development prospects.

Rafique noted that strengthening sexual and reproductive health and nutrition for adolescents must become a national priority.

The UNICEF boss stressed that with limited decision-making power among girls with widespread malnutrition and anaemia among adolescents, stakeholders—including the media—have a crucial role to play in driving awareness and shaping positive behavioural change.

She commended the media for what she described as its “consistent and intentional partnership,” acknowledging its role in improving public understanding of nutrition and child protection.

According to her, the growing risks facing adolescents in Bauchi and across Nigeria—including early pregnancy, unsafe childbirth, and poor access to quality healthcare—demand urgent action from policymakers, partners, and communities.

Rafique expressed concern over data showing that three out of every 10 pregnant women in Bauchi still deliver at home despite the dangers, adding that early pregnancy remains widespread among adolescent girls.

“We are here today to discuss how we can work together with the media, supporting government and UNICEF’s drive for better health outcomes for women, girls, boys, and young people aged 10 to 24,” she said.

She further called for joint efforts to empower women, protect teenagers, and define the roles of government, UNICEF, partners, and the media in safeguarding the health and rights of young people.

Also speaking, the Gender Focal Person at the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Amina Balali, highlighted the lack of a dedicated budget for adolescent health as one of the major challenges affecting service delivery in the state.

Balali pointed out the other barriers to include: inadequate human resources for health, insufficient adolescent-friendly health centres, limited funding for service supervision, and gaps in healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes.

She revealed that the adolescent pregnancy rate in Bauchi stands at 25.3 per cent among girls aged 15 to 19, even as she emphasised that improving adolescent well-being must become a priority, further describing it as a critical determinant of the nation’s future.

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