First Lady Flags Off MAMII Incentives, Mariya Bunkure Reaffirms FCT Support

By Umar Idris Shuaibu

The Federal Government has flagged off new incentives aimed at increasing the utilisation of maternal and newborn healthcare services as part of efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in Nigeria.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, spoke at the National Flag-Off of Incentives to Increase Maternal and Newborn Care Services Utilisation, held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mrs. Tinubu said the intervention, under the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), represented another step towards ensuring that every Nigerian child has a healthy start in life and that no woman loses her life while giving birth.

She said improving maternal and newborn health required deliberate interventions to address the challenges faced by women and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

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The First Lady called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare providers, development partners, communities and other stakeholders to ensure that interventions translate into measurable improvements in maternal and newborn survival.

She said the incentives under MAMII would complement ongoing government efforts to improve access to quality maternal and newborn services, strengthen healthcare delivery and encourage greater utilisation of available healthcare facilities.

Mrs. Tinubu also stressed the importance of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality as a national priority, urging stakeholders to sustain concerted efforts towards improving healthcare outcomes for women and children across the country.

The event was attended by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, who commended the First Lady for her continued advocacy and interventions aimed at strengthening maternal and child health across Nigeria.

Dr. Bunkure, who is a mother and medical professional, said she understood the importance of protecting the lives of women and children, stressing that no mother should lose her life while giving birth and no newborn should be denied the opportunity to survive and thrive because of barriers to essential healthcare services.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to supporting initiatives that improve access to quality healthcare and enhance health outcomes for women and children in the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Bunkure said concerted efforts by government and other stakeholders could help build a healthier Nigeria where every pregnancy is safer, every birth is supported and every child has a stronger start in life.