We’re finally being reached — Gombe mother hails lifesaving care

From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe

For many mothers in Gombe State, lifesaving healthcare is no longer a distant promise but a reality reaching their doorsteps. This renewed hope was evident in Balanga Local Government Area (LGA) as the state government flagged off an integrated Immunisation Plus Days and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.

A beneficiary of the campaign, which delivers critical services to pregnant women and under‑five children, Aishatu Muhammad, a mother of four who is seven months pregnant, described the intervention as timely and impactful.

“We are finally being reached. The supplements and vaccines have helped me and my children, especially in preventing sickness,” she said, while commending the government, UNICEF and other development partners for making the services free.

The campaign integrates routine immunisation, polio vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, antenatal care services, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition screening, family planning and health education, all delivered within a coordinated timeframe.

Speaking on the intervention, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Musa Mustafa Abdullahi, said the approach was designed to sustain polio‑free status while reducing maternal and child deaths.

“We must not relent in our efforts to protect our children and mothers. Integrating these services ensures wider coverage and better health outcomes,” he said.

Also speaking, the State Nutrition Officer, Muhammad Bawa, said the campaign directly targets malnutrition among children aged six to 59 months and pregnant women through screening and micronutrient support.

“We are strengthening immunity, preventing disease and supporting healthy pregnancies through integrated nutrition interventions,” Bawa explained.

Another pregnant mother, Zainab Auwal Garba, said the vitamin supplements received during antenatal care had improved her health, while urging the government to scale up supply.

“The supplements are not available for sale at pharmacy stores. Therefore, I appeal to the government to make them available for more women,” she said.

Meanwhile, the state government said the campaign, supported by partners including WHO and UNICEF, reflects its commitment to bringing essential healthcare closer to communities and strengthening primary healthcare delivery across Gombe State.