Firm donates mental health drugs, contraceptives to Bauchi

Plan International Nigeria has donated psychotropic medications, family planning commodities and drugs used to treat sexually transmitted infections to the Bauchi State Government as part of activities marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day.

The commodities were handed over on Saturday during an engagement organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the State Primary Health Care Development Board, with support from Plan International Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Charles Usie, said the donation was aimed at addressing shortages of essential medicines in health facilities and strengthening access to mental health and sexual and reproductive health services.

Usie, who was represented by the Gender Equality and Inclusion Officer at the organisation’s Bauchi Field Office, Damaris Philemon, said the intervention represented a shift from awareness campaigns to practical action.

“For mental health, awareness matters. Advocacy matters. Challenging stigma matters. But these efforts must ultimately be matched by accessible services, appropriate treatment, trained providers and the availability of the medicines people need when they seek care,” he said.

He explained that the intervention was implemented through the ASPIRE project, which operates in Bauchi and Sokoto states with support from Global Affairs Canada.

According to him, the project works with governments and communities to address challenges affecting adolescent girls and young women, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender inequality, harmful social norms, economic exclusion, and mental health and psychosocial well-being.

Usie said routine quality-of-care assessments and supportive supervision conducted with government agencies had revealed gaps in the availability of selected family planning commodities, medicines for sexually transmitted infections and psychotropic medications in supported health facilities.

He said the shortages could affect continuity of care and prevent patients from accessing timely and appropriate treatment.

“In response, and in support of ongoing government efforts, the ASPIRE project has procured essential family planning commodities, STI medicines and psychotropic medications for handover to the State Ministries of Health in Bauchi and Sokoto States,” he said.

The Plan International director stressed that the intervention was not merely a donation of medicines but an investment in stronger and more responsive healthcare systems.

He said the commodities would be integrated into existing government storage, distribution and monitoring structures, including relevant Drug Revolving Fund mechanisms, to promote sustainability beyond the lifespan of the project.

He added, “Mental health services should not sit at the margins of our health systems or be treated as an isolated intervention. People requiring mental health support should be able to access appropriate, quality and stigma-free care within systems that are equipped to respond to their needs.”

Usie urged the state government to ensure effective inventory management, responsible distribution, stock monitoring and utilisation reporting to guarantee that the commodities reached designated health facilities and the people who needed them.

He also called for the use of data from the intervention to guide future forecasting, procurement planning, budgeting and resource mobilisation.

“The long-term goal is not simply to address an immediate commodity gap, but to strengthen systems capable of anticipating needs, allocating resources and sustaining access to essential services beyond the lifespan of any individual project,” he said.

Receiving the commodities on behalf of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Permanent Secretary, Dauda Yakubu, appreciated Plan International Nigeria for the support and pledged that the items would be put to proper use.

Yakubu also urged residents to treat people living with mental health conditions with dignity and avoid stigmatising them.

He emphasised the importance of creating an environment where people experiencing mental health challenges could seek help without fear of discrimination.

PUNCH Online reports that World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10 to raise awareness of mental health issues and mobilise efforts to support mental well-being.

The 2026 commemoration also provides an opportunity to highlight the need for sustained investment in mental healthcare, improved access to treatment and stronger health systems that can respond to the needs of vulnerable populations. The commodities include 600 pieces of Sayana Press injectable contraceptives, 1,400 doses of Progesta injectable contraceptives, 10,024 packs of Microgynon pills and 2,531 condoms.

The donation also comprises medicines used in the management of sexually transmitted infections, including doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, metronidazole and azithromycin.

The psychotropic medications include mood stabilisers and anti-epileptic drugs such as carbamazepine and sodium valproate; antidepressants, including fluoxetine, escitalopram, sertraline and amitriptyline; and antipsychotic medicines such as risperidone, olanzapine, haloperidol, trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine.