FOMWAN Seeks Stronger Partnership With Benue Govt on Healthcare

……..Urges inclusion in health programmes targeting women, children, vulnerable groups

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Benue State chapter, has called for stronger collaboration with the state government to improve healthcare delivery, promote community development and enhance the welfare of women, children and other vulnerable groups.

The organization made the call during an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, at the ministry’s headquarters in Makurdi, where it expressed its readiness to partner with the government in advancing grassroots healthcare initiatives.

The delegation also commended Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration for its commitment to building a Greater Benue, pledging to support the government’s development agenda through community mobilization, advocacy and humanitarian interventions.

Speaking during the visit, the State Amira, Hajia Jamila Iliyasu, said the engagement was aimed at formally introducing the organization’s state leadership, showcasing its contributions to society and identifying areas of collaboration with the ministry.

She explained that FOMWAN had remained committed to promoting education, humanitarian services, social welfare, women’s empowerment and grassroots development through its various community-based initiatives.

Iliyasu noted that the organization’s extensive grassroots networks could serve as an effective channel for disseminating health information, promoting preventive healthcare and encouraging community participation in government health programmes.

She therefore appealed to the Ministry of Health and Human Services to include FOMWAN in relevant programmes and activities, particularly those focused on maternal and child healthcare, health awareness and access to essential medical services.

According to her, stronger collaboration between the government and faith-based organisations would help extend healthcare interventions to underserved communities and improve access to services for women, children and other vulnerable residents.

Receiving the delegation, Ogwuche, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Cephas Hough, and other senior officials, described the visit as an honour and commended FOMWAN for its contributions to health and education advocacy, humanitarian services and community development.

The commissioner said the government recognised the importance of partnerships with credible civil society and faith-based organisations in addressing the healthcare needs of residents and ensuring that public policies translated into meaningful benefits at the grassroots.

He explained that such partnerships could help advance Governor Alia’s vision of a Greater Benue by strengthening community participation and ensuring that government interventions reached the people they were designed to benefit.

Ogwuche expressed the ministry’s readiness to explore practical areas of collaboration with FOMWAN, particularly in health promotion, maternal and child healthcare, community mobilization and support for vulnerable persons.

He, however, noted that any partnership would be pursued in line with the ministry’s established priorities and available programme frameworks.

The commissioner stressed that active community participation was essential to achieving sustainable health outcomes, adding that government investments in the sector would have greater impact when residents were adequately informed, engaged and encouraged to take ownership of public health initiatives.

He said faith-based organisations with strong community ties could complement government efforts by promoting health-conscious behaviour, encouraging the use of available medical services and helping to bridge communication gaps between public institutions and local communities.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Hough, welcomed the delegation and commended FOMWAN for its initiative to establish a working relationship with the ministry in pursuit of shared development objectives.

Hough emphasised the need for sustained coordination between both parties to ensure that advocacy efforts translated into practical interventions and measurable improvements in the lives of residents.

He urged the organization to maintain engagement with relevant departments of the ministry to identify specific areas of cooperation and develop effective approaches to implementing mutually beneficial initiatives.

The delegation was led by FOMWAN North Central Zonal Coordinator, Hajia Afusat Afolabi, alongside Iliyasu and other members of the Benue State executive committee.

Prayers were offered for peace, unity, progress and prosperity in Benue State and Nigeria.

FOMWAN is a faith-based, non-governmental organization committed to promoting the welfare of women, children and society through education, advocacy, humanitarian services and community development.

The visit ended with both parties expressing their commitment to sustained engagement and mutually beneficial partnerships aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, deepening community participation and improving the wellbeing of Benue residents in line with the state government’s development agenda.