Niger First Lady: Regular hospital visits can stop needless maternal deaths

The First Lady of Niger State, Hajia Fatima Bago, has a direct message for pregnant women and nursing mothers: go to the hospital regularly, and many of the deaths we keep seeing can be avoided.

She gave the advice on Tuesday at the flag-off of the 2026 first round of the June/July Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in Tafa Local Government Area. The programme is funded by the United States government and run in partnership with development partners.

“Needless deaths of mothers and babies can be prevented through regular visits to healthcare facilities,” Bago said.

She said the state government has built quality healthcare centres, and more women and children are now using them. But she insisted that government alone can't finish the job.

“Healthcare is a shared responsibility. The government can't do it alone. We all have a role to play in ensuring that mothers and children receive the care they deserve.”

Bago called on nursing mothers and pregnant women to visit health centres regularly. She also urged everyone else — wives of the 25 local government chairmen, female political leaders, women's groups, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders — to become advocates for primary healthcare.

“I urge all of us to become advocates and ambassadors of primary healthcare within our communities,” she pleaded.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, said the health of women and children is a sign of development in progress. He said the state government is focused on the health of both mother and newborn.

“We are determined to strengthen healthcare delivery, expand access to essential services, and improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.

Dr. Junaidu Inuwa, Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, explained that the campaign aims to ensure healthcare reaches every community in the state.

Representatives from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF praised the state government. In their goodwill messages, they said Niger State's strategic intervention shows a strong commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child survival through high-impact health and nutrition services.

Dr. Gerida Birukila, Chief of UNICEF's Kaduna Field Office in Nigeria, assured that stakeholders would work to build stronger, more resilient medical facilities that mothers can trust.

“Together we can build a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Niger State where every mother survives and every child thrives,” she said.

The Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week is a regular national campaign. This round, funded by the US, will run across Niger State's 25 local government areas. It offers free services like immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, and health education for mothers and children under five.