Wife of Niger State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago, has called on wives of local government chairmen, women leaders, traditional and religious institutions and other stakeholders to mobilise communities and ensure every woman and child benefits from maternal and child healthcare services across the state.
She made the call during the flag-off of the 2026 first round of the June/July Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Tafa, Tafa Local Government Area, held in collaboration with development partners and funded by the United States Government.
The governor’s wife also urged pregnant women and nursing mothers to regularly visit health facilities, noting that more women and children are increasingly accessing healthcare services across the state.
“Healthcare is a shared responsibility. Government cannot do it alone. We all have a role to play in ensuring that mothers and children receive the care they deserve,” Mrs Bago noted.
She urged residents to become advocates of primary healthcare in their communities to improve access to essential health services and ensure that no woman or child is left behind.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, said the health of women and children remains critical to the state’s development agenda.
“Our determination is to strengthen healthcare delivery, expand access to essential services and improve the quality of life of our people,” he stated.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, NSPHCDA, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa, said the campaign was aimed at ensuring healthcare services reach communities across the state.
In separate goodwill messages, development partners, including the World Health Organization, WHO, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, described the initiative as a demonstration of Niger State’s commitment to improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes through integrated health and nutrition services.
Speaking on behalf of development partners, Chief of UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birukila, represented by Grace Odeyemi, said sustained collaboration would help build a healthier and more resilient state.
“Together, we can build a healthier, stronger and more resilient Niger State where every mother survives and every child thrives,” she said
Niger First Lady mobilises stakeholders for maternal, child health campaign