Victoria Mbangwa
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on traditional rulers in Taraba State to become champions of health in their communities urging them to mobilize grassroots support for free maternal healthcare and disease prevention services.
This is a a bold move to save the lives of mothers and children.
During a high-level engagement with monarchs in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, Mrs. Tinubu underscored the critical role of traditional leaders in reducing Nigeria’s alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality. Her message was clear, the fight to save mothers and children begins at the grassroots.
“We are here to encourage our frontline health workers by providing them with incentives and recognising the great job they are doing.” She said, “We believe that if they are well-supported, the rate of maternal and infant mortality will reduce significantly. We are also raising awareness about HIV/AIDS because the rate of mother-to-child transmission remains high.”
The First Lady’s visit is part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to strengthen healthcare delivery through targeted support for health workers, facility upgrades, and community engagement. As a show of support, she presented 10,000 professional kits to midwives across the North-East and handed over a N50 million cheque to empower 1,000 women in Taraba State.
Backing the First Lady’s call, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, revealed that over 8,500 frontline health workers have already been trained in the North-East 1,300 of them from Taraba. He also disclosed that more than 1,000 health facilities in the region receive direct quarterly funding, with 170 located in Taraba alone.
“These are direct efforts by the Federal Government to ensure that resources reach the frontlines where services are delivered,” he said.
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and his wife, Agyin Kefas, praised the initiative, calling it a transformative step toward better health outcomes for women and children in the state.
The visit marks a turning point in the Federal Government’s grassroots health campaign, with traditional institutions now playing a central role in curbing maternal and child deaths one community at a time.
