Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to reducing maternal and child mortality through targeted health interventions across Nigeria.
Speaking during an engagement with traditional rulers in Jalingo, Taraba State, Tinubu emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement in addressing health challenges, particularly among women and children. She urged the monarchs to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative by raising awareness in their communities about free healthcare services, including treatments for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
“We are here to encourage our frontline health workers by providing them with incentives and recognizing the great job they are doing,” she said. “We believe that if they are well-supported, maternal and infant mortality rates will significantly reduce. We are also raising awareness about HIV/AIDS because the rate of mother-to-child transmission remains high.”
Tinubu highlighted the crucial role of traditional institutions in the success of health interventions, especially in rural areas where they hold significant influence.
Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, noted that over 8,500 frontline health workers had been trained in the North-East, with 1,300 from Taraba State. He added that more than 1,000 health facilities in the region, including 170 in Taraba, receive quarterly disbursements from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba, along with his wife, Agyin Kefas, praised the First Lady for her visit and the support provided to the state under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
As part of her visit, Mrs. Tinubu presented 10,000 professional kits to midwives across the six North-East states and donated a N50m cheque to empower 1,000 women in Taraba.
