By Hussaini Yero, Funtua The Wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Huriyya Lawal, has inaugurated the wives of Local Govern...
By Hussaini Yero, Funtua
The Wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Huriyya Lawal, has inaugurated the wives of Local Government Chairmen as Mama Ambassadors to champion community advocacy on child immunization across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, the First Lady said the initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sensitization, noting that the wives of council chairmen will take the message “into the heart of every community.” She explained that the ambassadors are expected to remind mothers to immunize their children, attend antenatal care, and maintain regular contact with health facilities.
“My dear mothers, allow me to speak to your hearts: the vaccines offered at the health centres are safe. They have been used in Nigeria and around the world for many years. They protect children from life-threatening illnesses such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus,” she said.
According to her, Zamfara State has recorded progress, with more mothers visiting primary healthcare centres and more babies receiving vaccines. She commended midwives and nurses for their tireless efforts, even in remote communities, saying, “I deeply appreciate all our health workers; you are the true pillars of our communities.”
The First Lady noted that despite the gains, the state still has “zero-dose children” who have not received any vaccines. “These are not statistics; they are real babies in our villages. They can be protected if their mothers are informed, encouraged, and guided. The campaign we are launching today is for them. And the inauguration of our Mama Ambassadors is part of that mission,” she added.
She emphasized that the decoration of the Mama Ambassadors was not merely ceremonial but an assignment of a “sacred obligation to protect life and spread truth,” adding that the ambassadors will serve as “the hands, the voices, and the hearts” of the immunization campaign.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Hussaini Anka, said that within the past 11 months, several lifesaving programmes targeting pregnant women and children at the grassroots had been implemented, resulting in a reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases. He stressed that quality healthcare delivery begins at the primary level and called for stronger collaboration among government, traditional institutions, and community leaders to improve immunization uptake.
Anka noted that low vaccine acceptance remains a challenge, revealing that the Governors’ Forum and development partners have adopted community-focused outreach strategies to boost coverage.
The Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of vaccines for children and urging parents to accept immunization “one hundred percent” for their wards.
Stakeholders expressed confidence that the initiative will strengthen healthcare delivery, improve health outcomes, and contribute to the long-term stability and prosperity of the state.
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