Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has kicked off the distribution of professional kits for midwives across the North-West.
The event, which took place in Kaduna State, was organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative and saw the First Ladies from all seven states in the region attending.
At the event, Tinubu talked about how vital midwives are in improving healthcare, saying that their job goes beyond just skills and compassion. She pointed out that they also need the right tools and infrastructure to do their work effectively.
“The demands of the health profession go beyond mere skills and compassion, noting that the right tools and infrastructure are also needed,” she said.
She praised the hard work of midwives and other healthcare workers, highlighting their role in reducing maternal and child deaths in Nigeria.
The First Lady shared that 10,000 professional kits would be distributed to midwives across the North-West, covering the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
She explained that the initiative was part of a larger effort to retrain 120,000 health workers across the country. The kits, which include scrubs and crocs, are meant to support midwives and show appreciation for their dedication.
“I am honoured to officially flag off the distribution of 10,000 Professional Kits to Midwives in the North-West States, namely Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with Kaduna State being the Chief Host today.
“This event is to complement the ongoing Federal Government retraining exercise for 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide,” she announced.
“I am informed that 59,570 health workers have already completed their training and that is why the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs, as an incentive to encourage and support the tireless dedication of our Midwives,” she added.
She also urged Nigerians to recognise the important work of healthcare professionals and expressed her admiration for health leaders like Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, who are focused on improving healthcare for all.
The kits will eventually be distributed across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The North-Central Zone already received theirs in January, and the next stop will be the South-South.
“All six geopolitical zones will receive 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 pairs of crocs, which will be distributed among the states in each zone,” she said.
The event also served as an opportunity to empower women, with 1,000 women petty traders receiving N50,000 grants each, as Senator Tinubu emphasised how empowering women helps strengthen families and communities.
