Pregnant women have been advised to regularly attend antenatal clinics to ensure their health and that of their unborn babies, as well as to prevent maternal and infant mortality.
This call was made during a Trust Building Forum organised by the Federation of Muslim Women's Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Niger State Chapter, in collaboration with the International Budget Partnership (IBP), the Niger State Ministry for Primary Healthcare, and the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare).
The event was held at the Senator Idris Kuta Memorial Primary Healthcare Centre, Minna.
Project Coordinator of FOMWAN-IBP Spark Two Project, Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim Lemu, stressed that antenatal care is vital for ensuring the well-being of mothers and their babies.
"Antenatal care provides an opportunity for women to receive education and support on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting," Lemu said, adding that FOMWAN will continue to sensitise women -- especially expectant mothers -- on the importance of consistent medical checkups.
She also urged husbands to support their wives in attending antenatal sessions, noting that spousal encouragement often determines maternal health outcomes.
Also speaking, former FOMWAN Amirah in charge of Media for Spark Two, Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Abdullahi, encouraged pregnant women to make regular visits to primary healthcare centres a priority, saying such visits help detect and address complications early.
On her part, the State Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs. Dorcas Talatu Abu, cautioned traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to understand the limits of their roles, emphasizing that "every delivery has both positive and negative sides" and must be handled carefully to avoid preventable risks.
Earlier, the Director of Standards and Quality Assurance at the Niger State Contributory Health Agency, Dr. Sa'ad Saleh Galma, said the agency's target is to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates across the state through improved access to quality healthcare.
Some of the pregnant women who attended the forum thanked FOMWAN for the initiative and pledged to always attend antenatal sessions for their own safety and that of their babies.