By Stanley Onyekwere
In an effort to support and strengthen infrastructural development for improved accessibility and effective healthcare service delivery, the Nigerian Ministers’ Wives Forum (NMWF) have upgraded sections of the Zuba General Hospital in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The upgraded sections include; Labour & delivery theater, patient & staff toilets, doctor’s call room and courtyard.
According to the Forum, the gesture is born out of the shared vision of President Bola Tinubu “whose leadership inspires initiatives that promotes national development with compassion for the welfare of Nigerians hence the Forum’s resolve to promote services, empathy, compassion and care because leadership should be expressed through acts of kindness and meaningful change which are in tandem with the Forum’s mission to support initiatives that uplift communities and improve lives”.
A statement from the Media Aide to the FCT Health Services and Environmental Secretariat (HSES), Bola Ajao, disclosed that the handing over ceremony of was done on Tuesday 10th March, 2026 at the hospital premises by NMWF led by the Vice-Chairperson of the Forum, Mrs. Azizat Kemi Alausa, the wife of Minister of Education.
In her keynote address, the Vice- Chairperson of Forum, noted that the project undertaken by NMWF in Zuba General Hospital aims at “strengthening care for mothers, newborns, patients and the dedicated medical staff who serve them every day” she said.
According to Mrs. Alausa, safe childbirth, dignified patient care and supportive working conditions for healthcare providers are essential to a healthy society. These improvements represent hope, comfort and renewed commitment to quality healthcare for the people of this community in line with the Renewed Hope Initiatives of the present Administration.
Also, the Vice-Chairperson noted that the intervention aligns with the season of Ramadan and Lent which is ongoing and characterized by acts of sacrifice, kindness, charity and love as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an surah Al-Baqarah 2:261 and Hebrew 13:16 in the Holy Bible respectively.
In her remarks , the Mandate Secretary FCT-HSES,, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe appreciated the NMWF for the initiative, which she described as a noble project “which will last beyond today with the significance capable of encouraging other philanthropic groups to also contribute to the system because provision of quality healthcare services is a collective responsibility and not for government alone”.
Dr. Fasawe added that, the gesture shows that there is more to the season of Ramadan and Lent beyond giving/sharing food during such periods as NMWF has demonstrated in line with the transformational reforms especially infrastructural development across all sectors in FCT under the able leadership of the Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
Earlier, the Medical Director of Zuba General Hospital, Dr. Isa Bulama Babale istated that, “the renovation and upgrade of these sections of the hospital will significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide efficient, quality and patient-centered healthcare services to residents of Zuba whilst creating a conducive environment for both patients and healthcare workers”.
Furthermore, Dr. Babale commended the Forum for the timely completion of the facility upgrade which he said goes beyond infrastructure.
He said :”It represents renewed hope, improved access to quality healthcare and a stronger commitment to better health particularly to support the FCT Administration efforts in enhancing maternal, child and general healthcare services in FCT” he mentioned.”
In a goodwill message, the wife of Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, who is a member of the Forum, commended the Mandate Secretary FCT-HSES and healthcare workers for contributing to healthcare/humanity positively as such, providing relevant and needed support is top priority of NMWF to encourage front liners in the system and will continue to do more in that light.
Furthermore, as part of the handing-over ceremony, the NMWF also distributed free food items to patients, staffs and community members as well as donated beddings to the hospital.
