Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality through strengthened health interventions across the country.
Speaking on Thursday in Jalingo, Taraba State, during a strategic engagement with traditional rulers, the First Lady emphasized the importance of building a healthier population, particularly among Nigeria’s youth.
“We want to leave behind a legacy of a healthy population, not one burdened by preventable diseases,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu underscored the vital role traditional institutions play in community engagement and called on monarchs to support the Renewed Hope Initiative by promoting awareness of key health programs in their domains.
“We are here to encourage our frontline health workers by providing them with incentives and recognizing the great work they do,” she said. “With adequate support, we believe maternal and infant mortality rates can be significantly reduced.”
She also raised concerns over the high rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, adding that treatments for both HIV and Tuberculosis are available and free. “Partnering with our traditional leaders is crucial in spreading this message to the grassroots,” she added.
Coordinating Minister for Health, Prof. Ali Pate, also addressed participants, noting the government’s sustained investment in healthcare delivery.
“In the North East alone, 8,500 frontline health workers have been trained, including 1,300 from Taraba,” he revealed. “More than 1,000 health facilities in the region now receive quarterly disbursements from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, with 170 of them located in Taraba State.”
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, and his wife, Agyin Kefas, in separate remarks, commended the Federal Government’s interventions through the Renewed Hope Initiative, describing them as well-aligned with the state’s development priorities.
As part of her visit, Senator Tinubu presented 10,000 professional kits to midwives across the six North Eastern states and handed over a N50 million cheque to support the empowerment of 1,000 women in Taraba State.
