By Muhammad Amaan
The Nigeria’s Federal Government said it is set to revitalize health care services with the refurbishment of 17,600 primary health care centres nationwide.
First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu made this known on Saturday at the formal launch of the Women’s Optimal Health Framework in Kampala, Uganda.
She stated that the government’s efforts at revitalizing the health centres across the country are, among others, aimed at tackling infant and maternal mortality while also promoting the life expectancy of all Nigerians.
Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohaneny, the First Lady disclosed that the Federal Government has also secured a grant from an international donor agency to train midwives and front-line health workers aimed at strengthening collaborations in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
She stated further that, “through a coordinated partnership between my office and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, a total of 4.7 million girls have been immunised against cervical cancer from October 2023 to date.”
The nationwide immunisation exercise, she explained, was made possible through the introduction of the human papilloma vaccine into the national routine vaccine schedule designed to stem such cases among women, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Administration.”
In recognition of the relevance of a multi-sectoral approach to the advancement of women’s health, the Renewed Hope Initiative was established by the Office of the First Lady to ensure the robust empowerment of Nigerian women.
“I established the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to bring about improvements in health, agriculture, education, economic empowerment, and social investment targeting women and vulnerable groups to bridge the gaps.
“This is in addition to the commencement of the RHI Women Agricultural Programme (RHI-WASP) competition, which targets over 3 000 women across the country, and the Young Farmers Club with the theme ‘Every Home A Garden’ in order to encourage the culture of farming and good nutrition among women and the younger populace,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu commended the Ugandan First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, for spearheading the optimal health initiative, which she described as a research-based programme that will contribute to the life expectancy of women.
She called on African women to key in on the programme with a view to reinvigorating the general push towards addressing the issue of gender equality in the region.
Responding, Mrs Museveni stated that the optimal women’s health framework will act as a gateway that will strengthen partnerships for the upliftment of the health and general well-being of women in Africa.
She commended Mrs Tinubu for her commitment to the growth and development of women and children, describing her as a beacon of hope, not only for Nigeria but for the African Sub-Region as a whole.
