Jalingo: The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to health interventions aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality across Nigeria. Mrs. Tinubu restated this in Jalingo during the launch of the distribution of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the North/East Zone, facilitated by her NGO, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized the importance of supporting frontline health workers by providing them with necessary incentives and recognition for their efforts. She expressed confidence that with proper support, maternal and infant mortality rates would see a significant decline. Additionally, she highlighted the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly the high rates of mother-to-child transmission.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mrs. Tinubu also provided a N50 million cheque to the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Agyin Kefas, aimed at empowering 1,000 women petty traders in the state. The distribution of the 10,000 professional kits, intended for midwives across the six North-East states, is to be carried out through the State Primary Healthcare Services. Mrs. Tinubu noted that the RHI plans to expand these efforts to other regions, with the South-West Zone being next in line.
The Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, addressed the gathering, underscoring the Federal Government’s dedication to enhancing frontline healthcare. He stated that 8,500 frontline health workers have been trained in the North-East alone, including 1,300 from Taraba. Additionally, more than 1,000 health facilities receive quarterly funding from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, with 170 located in Taraba.
The State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, and his wife expressed their gratitude to Mrs. Tinubu for her interventions, affirming that the initiatives align with the state’s development priorities.