The outreach team, led by Dr Betta Edu
The Directorate of Women Mobilisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has extended its compassionate outreach to vulnerable patients in Kaduna State, visiting hospitals and engaging women and children as part of its grassroots activities ahead of the party’s rally held on Saturday.
According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the outreach, led by Dr Betta Edu, followed a directive by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the Directorate to reach out to women and children in hospitals across Kaduna State ahead of the rally flag-off.
The team visited Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Yusuf Dansoho Memorial Hospital, where members interacted with patients, healthcare workers and hospital administrators, offering support and conveying a message of care and encouragement from the First Lady.
Among those who participated in the outreach were Senator Binta Masi Garba, Senator Olujimi, Elizabeth Ogenyi, Ada Ode and Gloria Akobundu, alongside other members of the Directorate.
The Majority Leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Munirat Tanimu, also joined the team.
Speaking during the exercise, Edu highlighted the Federal Government’s healthcare interventions, particularly those targeting pregnant women and vulnerable Nigerians.
“Our President has done a lot in the health sector and is working on more reforms that will provide affordable healthcare for Nigerians,” she said.
She explained that pregnant women in selected hospitals across the country were benefiting from free maternal healthcare services, including delivery, Caesarean sections and medications.
According to her, other interventions include subsidies for renal dialysis and cancer care, aimed at reducing the financial burden of accessing essential medical services.
Edu also commended the First Lady for her contributions to maternal healthcare through the Renewed Hope Initiative, particularly her support for midwives’ training and the provision of equipment to strengthen maternal health services and reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.
The directorate said the outreach was designed to demonstrate compassion and solidarity with patients while drawing attention to the healthcare needs of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Beneficiaries thanked President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady for the gesture, while also thanking the APC Women Mobilisation team for visiting the hospitals and showing concern for their welfare.
Some of the beneficiaries reportedly expressed support for the re-election of Tinubu, saying they hoped the free maternal healthcare interventions would continue and be expanded to reach more Nigerians.
They also acknowledged the impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that the student loan scheme had helped ease the financial burden on families whose children were pursuing higher education.
The hospital visits form part of the Directorate’s broader grassroots engagement strategy, which combines humanitarian outreach with public awareness of programmes and policies under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Organisers said the initiative reflected the Directorate’s commitment to engaging directly with communities and ensuring that the concerns of women, families and vulnerable citizens remain part of its outreach activities.
The exercise also underscored the importance of strengthening community support systems and improving access to healthcare, particularly for women and children who may face financial and other barriers to essential medical services.