Bauchi State Government has been urged to expand access to youth-friendly health services in its facilities. The call came from development partners and health advocates during a stakeholders' meeting in Bauchi. They identified gaps in service delivery, particularly for adolescents and young people in rural communities. Limited infrastructure, inadequate trained personnel, and cultural barriers were cited as key challenges. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Society for Family Health (SFH) stressed the need for targeted interventions to improve reproductive health outcomes. A representative from SFH said, "Young people in Bauchi face avoidable health risks due to lack of tailored services." The state's Primary Health Care Development Agency acknowledged the gaps and pledged to integrate youth-friendly approaches into its health programmes. No timeline was given for implementation.
The state's admission of failing youth health access reveals how long adolescents have been an afterthought in Bauchi's health planning. With UNFPA and SFH pushing for change, the real test is whether promises will translate into clinics that young people can actually use. If the Primary Health Care Development Agency does not act fast, preventable health issues will keep rising among young residents.
