Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has identified maternal and child mortality as a serious health challenge, which requires support from all quarters before it can be tamed.
Mrs Buhari who spoke during foundation stone laying ceremony of a Maternity Clinic at the Daura General Hospital, Katsina state, on Thursday, lamented the challenges women face trying to access medical care during pregnancy, at childbirth and while raising their babies.
“Women go through serious challenges when they are at their most vulnerable state, so they need a lot of support. This support is one of the mandates of Future Assured, my programme.” She said.
This project, she said, will also support Federal Government’s policy of establishing healthcare facility in every political unit in the country.
“The Maternity Ward is another way of reducing the challenges faced by women and making their lives better.”
She drew attention to the need for stakeholders to pay more attention to the needs of women in all communities.
Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo in her remarks commended the courage, hard work and dedication of Mrs. Buhari to Nigeria and Nigerians, and said this is what drives her to do the good job she is doing in the lives of women and children.
Wife of the Governor of Katsina State, Hajiya Zakiyya Aminu Masari commended the effort of Mrs. Buhari and thanked her for choosing Katsina state to commission this project.
Mrs. Buhari paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, who in his welcome address commended her for the new project and used the opportunity to call on leaders to protect women against maltreatment which as he said, is becoming more rampant.
The Maternity ward will have a 50-bed capacity and is being constructed by a donor through Aisha Buhari Foundation, who will hand it over to the hospital on completion.