… Begs women to patronise Health centres regularly
Daniel Atori & Ibrahim Musa
As Nigeria begins the 2026 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), Wife of the Niger state Governor Hajia Fatima Umaru Bago has called on pregnant women and nursing mothers to take advantage of the week to visit the nearest health facilities for healthcare services.
Speaking at the official flag off of the 2026 first round June/July Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in collaboration with Development partners and funded by the United States government, Hajia Fatima said she is happy more women and children are accessing healthcare facilities across the state.
She said “healthcare is a shared responsibility, the Government cannot do it alone. We all have a role to play in ensuring that mothers and children receive the care they deserve.
“While I call on nursing mothers and pregnant women to visit health centres regularly, I urge all of us to become advocates and ambassadors of primary healthcare within our communities”.
She then called on the wives of the 25 Local Government Chairmen, female political leaders, women groups, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to support awareness and mobilization efforts to ensure that no woman or child is left behind.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Health Dr. Murtala Bagana said the health of women and children is a development in progress.
According to him “our determination is to strengthen healthcare delivery, expand access to essential services and improve the quality of life of our people”.
Earlier, Executive Director, Niger state Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCA), Dr. Junaidu Inuwa said the campaign is to ensure that the benefit of healthcare reaches all communities across the state.
In their various goodwill messages, the WHO and UNICEF said the strategic intervention implementation demonstrates Niger State’s unwavering commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child survival outcomes through the delivery of high-impact, integrated health and nutrition services.
Speaking on behalf of partners, the Chief of Kaduna Field Office, UNICEF, Nigeria, Dr. Gerida Birukila who was represented by Grace Odeyemi said together “we can build a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Niger State where every mother survives and every child thrives”.
