Muslim group seeks Benue govt’s partnership to advance healthcare delivery, community devt

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Benue State Chapter, is seeking stronger collaboration with the Benue State Government to advance healthcare delivery and community development within the state.

The delegation, led by the FOMWAN’s North Central zonal coordinator, Hajia Afusat Afolabi, alongside the Benue State Amira, Hajia Jamila Iliyasu and other members of the State Executive Committee, has paid an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Makurdi

Speaking during the visit, the state Amira expressed appreciation for the reception and explained that the engagement was intended to formally introduce the state leadership of FOMWAN, highlight the organization’s contributions to society and identify areas of partnership with the ministry in healthcare delivery and community development.

The delegation highlighted the group’s interventions in education, humanitarian services, social welfare, women’s empowerment and community development and commended the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for its commitment to building a greater Benue.

The organisation expressed its readiness to support the Governor’s development agenda through grassroots mobilisation and community-based initiatives.

It, therefore, appealed for inclusion in relevant ministry’s programmes and activities, noting that its extensive community networks could help strengthen health awareness, promote preventive healthcare and improve access to essential services, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Responding, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Ogwuche, who received the group in company of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Cephas Hough and other senior officials of the ministry, described the visit as an honour.

He commended FOMWAN for its sustained contributions to health and education advocacy, humanitarian services and community development.

The Commissioner observed that the Alia administration’s drive to improve the wellbeing of the people requires effective partnerships with credible civil society and faith-based organisations capable of bridging the gap between the government’s policies and communities.

He noted that such partnerships would help translate the Governor’s vision for a greater Benue into tangible benefits for citizens across the state.

He expressed the ministry’s readiness to explore practical areas of collaboration with FOMWAN, particularly in health promotion, maternal and child health, community mobilisation and support for vulnerable persons, in line with established priorities and available programme frameworks.

Dr. Ogwuche emphasised that meaningful community participation remains essential to achieving sustainable health outcomes, adding that government investments and interventions deliver greater impact when communities are adequately informed, engaged and encouraged to take ownership of public health initiatives.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hough commended the group for engaging the ministry in pursuit of shared development objectives, stressing the importance of sustained coordination to ensure that advocacy efforts translate into practical interventions and measurable benefits for the people.

He urged the organisation to maintain engagement with relevant departments of the ministry to ensure the commitment and advance the welfare of women, children and the wider society.

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