FOMWAN seeks stronger partnership with Benue govt on healthcare

By Benedicta Aboh

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

The organisation made the appeal during an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, at the ministry’s headquarters in Makurdi, where it also commended Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration for its commitment to building a Greater Benue.

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

Receiving the delegation, the commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Cephas Hough, and other senior officials.

Speaking during the visit, the State Amira said the engagement was intended to formally introduce the organisation’s state leadership, highlight its contributions to society and explore areas of collaboration with the ministry in healthcare delivery and community development.

She explained that FOMWAN had continued to contribute to education, humanitarian services, social welfare, women’s empowerment and grassroots development.

The delegation commended Governor Alia for his development agenda and expressed the organisation’s readiness to support the administration through grassroots mobilisation and community-based initiatives.

It also appealed to the ministry to include FOMWAN in relevant programmes and activities, noting that its extensive community networks could help promote health awareness, preventive healthcare and access to essential medical services, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Responding, Ogwuche described the visit as an honour to the ministry and commended FOMWAN for its sustained contributions to health and education advocacy, humanitarian services and community development.

He said the state government’s efforts to improve the wellbeing of residents required effective partnerships with credible civil society and faith-based organisations capable of connecting government policies with the needs of communities.

According to him, such partnerships would help translate Governor Alia’s vision of a Greater Benue into tangible benefits for residents across the state.

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

He noted that such collaboration would be pursued in line with the ministry’s established priorities and available programme frameworks.

Ogwuche stressed that meaningful community participation was essential to achieving sustainable health outcomes, adding that government investments and interventions would have greater impact when residents were adequately informed, engaged and encouraged to take ownership of public health initiatives.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Hough, welcomed the delegation and commended the organisation for seeking collaboration with the ministry to advance shared development objectives.

He emphasised the need for sustained coordination to ensure that advocacy efforts translated into practical interventions and measurable benefits for residents.

Hough urged FOMWAN to maintain engagement with relevant departments of the ministry to identify opportunities for effective collaboration.

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

FOMWAN is a faith-based, non-governmental organisation 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 commitment to sustained engagement and mutually beneficial partnerships aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, deepening community participation and advancing the wellbeing of Benue residents in line with Governor Alia’s Greater Benue vision.