NIGERIAN First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, wishes to see increased global, multi-sector partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in Africa. 

 

Buhari, who spoke through the Wife of the Senate President/Founder- President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, WBFA, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, noted: 'We must continue to collaborate and innovate to build on the progress made on the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. 

 

"The investment of our time, our political will, and our funding will accelerate progress in the post-2015 development agenda, particularly with respect to Sustainable Development Goal 3. 

 

"Through this goal and its 13 targets, we will expand our fight against HIV and AIDs, which continues to ravage our continent." 

 

Saraki who spoke during the 2015 UN General Assembly First Spouses Events, told the Organisation of African First Ladies AgainstAIDS/HN, about Nigeria's progress in achieving MDG 6, to combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria polio, etc. 

 

 

With the issue of internally displaced persons close to her heart, Buhari, further conveyed the need to address the growing humanitarian and maternal health crisis facing migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons. 

 

In Nigeria alone, 3.3 million people have been displaced by violence, with 126 babies delivered in IDP camps in Borno the every day. 

 

Buhari visited the IDP camps at Damare and St Joseph's Catholic Mission in Adamawa State in Februry 2015,andwith Saraki, donated urgent essential drugs to displaced citizens, and WBFA's Clean Birth MarnaKits to pregnant women atthe camp, to enable the safe delivery of newborns. 

 

As the Advisory Council On Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health, Plus Nutrition Champion, the First Lady advocated improved nutrition and support to pregnant women. 

 

Speaking on the theme "Building on MDGs to invest in the post-2015 development agenda", Saraki observed that to facilitate detection of HIV in pregnant women and aid midwives/health professionals in record keeping and data collection, WBFA has developed accountability tools and resources, to capture data and key health information on maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), from start of pregnancy through delivery. up to 5 years and beyond. 

 

By Sola Ogundipe

Vanguard