The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, officially inaugurated the distribution of 10,000 professional Kits to midwives in the North-Central beginning with Kwara State, through her national project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.

She said the initiative was conceived to complement the ongoing Federal Government’s retraining exercise for 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mrs Tinubu explained that each of the six geopolitical zones would receive 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 crocs to be distributed among the states in each zone.

She said the donation, which was part of the RHI Health Programme, aimed to give back to society.

“I am informed that 54,346 health workers have already completed their training, which is why the RHI procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 crocs as an incentive to encourage and support the tireless dedication of our midwives. I am honoured to officially inaugurate the distribution of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the North-Central states, namely: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the FCT. This donation has been made possible by the generous support of an anonymous global partner committed to ensuring better health outcomes for our citizens. My first contact with them was at the UNGA in 2023 and later at the African Union (AU) Summit in 2024. The donor supports the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development and the health sector in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.’’

 Also, Mrs Tinubu disclosed plans to inaugurate the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis in Kwara State, aimed at promoting healthier mothers and reducing HIV infections.

Mrs Tinubu commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, and other health officials for their dedication to improving healthcare.

She lauded the RHI’s work since its inception in 2023, noting its interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social investment.

The First lady expressed her gratitude to Kwara State Governor, bdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his wife, Dr Olufolake AbdulRazaq, for their hospitality and to the wives of governors for their support of RHI initiatives.

The kits, including 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 crocs, were officially handed over to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for distribution in the North-Central zone.

Additionally, she inaugurated a 45-seat ICT community centre at the Kwara State College of Education, donated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with RHI.

Mrs Tinubu emphasised the importance of ICT in empowering communities, particularly women, to break traditional barriers and access new opportunities.

She also distributed food items to women in Kwara State and presented a grant of N50 million to women petty traders in the state.

(NAN)