The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Benue State Chapter, has offered to support the state government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery through grassroots mobilisation and community engagement.
The association made the offer during an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, at the ministry’s headquarters in Makurdi, where it sought a stronger partnership with the government on healthcare delivery and community development.
FOMWAN’s delegation was led by its North Central Zonal Coordinator, Hajia Afusat Afolabi, alongside the Benue State Amira, Hajia Jamila Iliyasu, and other members of the state executive committee.
During the visit, Iliyasu said the engagement was intended to introduce the association’s state leadership, highlight its contributions to society and identify areas of collaboration with the ministry.
The association said its grassroots networks could help the government strengthen health awareness, promote preventive healthcare and improve access to essential services for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
It also mentioned its interventions in education, humanitarian services, social welfare, women’s empowerment and community development, expressing readiness to support the state government’s development programmes through community mobilisation.
Responding, Ogwuche commended FOMWAN for its contributions to health and education advocacy, humanitarian services and community development.
He said the state government needed partnerships with credible civil society and faith-based organisations to bridge the gap between government policies and communities.
The commissioner expressed the ministry’s readiness to explore areas of collaboration with the association, particularly in health promotion, maternal and child health, community mobilisation and support for vulnerable people.
He said community participation was essential to achieving sustainable health outcomes, adding that government interventions would have greater impact when residents were adequately informed and encouraged to take ownership of public health initiatives.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Cephas Hough, also urged FOMWAN to maintain engagement with relevant departments to ensure that the proposed collaboration translated into practical interventions and measurable benefits for women, children and the wider society.