By Nnedinma Okeke
The Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) has strengthened its partnership with the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Anambra State Chapter, to expand community participation and improve access to essential primary healthcare services.
The partnership was reinforced during an interactive meeting between the Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Dr. Chizoba Prisca Ezeasor, and the association’s executives at the agency’s office complex in Awka on Oct. 29.
Discussions focused on improving maternal and child health, routine immunisation, antenatal care, facility based delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, reproductive health, referrals and other essential healthcare interventions.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Ezeasor commended FOMWAN for its contributions to healthcare interventions within Muslim communities and urged its members to intensify grassroots awareness, particularly on early antenatal registration, skilled birth attendance and routine immunisation.
She highlighted the Anambra State Government’s commitment to providing free antenatal, delivery and referral services in general hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state.
The Executive Secretary also introduced the Agency’s Food Bank Initiative, which provides support for malnourished children aged six months to six years, pregnant women experiencing malnutrition and lactating mothers.
She encouraged FOMWAN members to identify and refer eligible beneficiaries to the nearest health facilities for proper assessment and enrolment.
Addressing concerns raised by the association over maternal deaths and shortages of skilled birth attendants in some health facilities, Dr. Ezeasor assured the delegation that the agency would continue working to address identified gaps and improve the quality of healthcare services at the grassroots.
In her remarks, the FOMWAN South-East II Assistant Zonal Coordinator, Hajia Khadijat Olahan, highlighted the organisation’s longstanding involvement in immunisation campaigns, community health interventions and Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) activities.
She reaffirmed the association’s readiness to deepen its collaboration with the agency, stressing that preventable maternal deaths and childhood diseases must be addressed through increased awareness and improved access to healthcare.
Similarly, the FOMWAN Anambra State President, Hajia Maryam Ijeoma Raji, pledged to use the association’s existing religious and community platforms, including weekly Asalatu gatherings, Tafsir sessions, Islamiyyah schools and Juma’ah prayers, to educate women and families on essential maternal and child health services.
She also offered to mobilise members to serve as Primary Healthcare Champions in their respective communities, helping to promote healthy practices and encourage greater utilisation of available health services.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by both organisations to strengthen community mobilisation, promote preventive healthcare and ensure that more women and children benefit from essential primary healthcare services across Anambra State.
“Nnedinma Okeke is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State*
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