Mrs. Aisha Buhari has re-affirmed her commitment to use all platforms available to her as Wife of the President to champion and build alliances that will help strengthen advocacy for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) in states across the country. She stated this at a one-day RMNCAH +N stakeholders meeting organized by Future Assured Programme at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja on Monday 9th October, 2017.
In line with the theme of the meeting, which is “Building Alliance for Advocacy” Mrs. Buhari stressed the need for a strong coalition to increase awareness on the importance of providing RMNCAH+N services and to promote advocacy for better service delivery as well as increase utilization of these services”. She therefore urged wives of the state Governors to champion and lend a strong voice in improving the health status of women and children in their various states.
“This event” she said “marks the beginning of commitments and more investment from development partners, international agencies, the private sector, government and stakeholders to provide support to all the activities of the established Governors wives coalition in the states and FCT towards ensuring that the vision of RMNCAH+N is achieved.”
Earlier, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole commended the wife of the President for her various Interventions in the country’s health sector especially on issues of women and children. He expressed optimism that Mrs. Buhari’s effort will compliment and strengthen government to make a significant impact in the health status of the nation.
Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University, Kano, spoke about the situation in the RMNCAH+N field, painting a clear picture of the need for action.
Highlight of the event was the official launch of the Governors’ Wives Advocacy Coalition (GWAC), a platform to drive action on RMNCAH+N at the state level. Wives of Governors were also invested as Champions of RMNCAH+N in recognition of their work. They were represented by Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, chairperson of Southern Governors Wives Forum and Mrs. Asma’u Yari, chairperson of the Northern Governors Wives Forum.
Present at the event was the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Wives of Governors, as well as Heads of Development Institutions and United Nations Agencies.
Aisha Bunu writes from the office of the Wife of the President.
