The Wife of the Niger State Governor, Fatima Umaru Bago, has called on women across the state to make regular visits to health facilities a priority in order to access essential healthcare services.
She made the call on Tuesday in Minna during the official flag-off of the 2026 first round June/July Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH), organized in collaboration with development partners and funded by the United States Government.
The First Lady noted that there has been a significant increase in the number of women and children accessing healthcare services across Niger State, stressing that improving maternal and child health requires collective effort.
According to her, “Healthcare is a shared responsibility. Government alone cannot do it; we all have a role to play in ensuring that mothers and children receive the care they deserve.
“While I encourage nursing mothers and pregnant women to visit health centres regularly, I also urge everyone to become advocates and ambassadors of primary healthcare within our communities.”
She further called on the wives of the 25 Local Government Chairmen, female political leaders, women’s organizations, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to support awareness creation and mobilization efforts to ensure that every woman and child has access to quality healthcare.
Speaking at the event, the Niger State Commissioner for Health, Murtala Bagana, described the health of women and children as a key indicator of development.
He said the state government remains committed to strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding access to essential health services, and improving the well-being of citizens.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Junaidu Inuwa, explained that the campaign was designed to ensure that the benefits of healthcare interventions reach communities across the state.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of the World Health Organization and UNICEF commended Niger State’s commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child survival through integrated health and nutrition interventions.
Representing the Chief of the Kaduna Field Office of UNICEF Nigeria, Grace Odeyemi said sustained collaboration among stakeholders would help build “a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Niger State where every mother survives and every child thrives.”
