By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar In many communities across Northern Nigeria, traditional and community structures continue to wield considerable influence over household decisions, social behaviour and access to essential services. This makes the community not just a social structure, but a powerful platform for changing attitudes, challenging harmful practices and promoting healthier behaviours. It was against this background that the Bauchi State Government, with funding from the United States Government and technical support from the UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, launched an intervention in April 2026 aimed at improving the health…
Category: Birth
Maulud Celebrations: Origins, Miracles and Significance in Islamic History
The state-sponsored celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), originally traces back to the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt, which ruled between the 10th and 12th centuries. While the Fatimids initially marked the occasion alongside prominent members of the Ahl al-Bayt, a widely accepted narrative within Sunni Islamic history credits Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, the ruler of Erbil in modern-day Iraq, for organizing the first massive, festive celebrations that mirror contemporary practices. According to a BBC Hausa report, prominent Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Halliru Maraya clarified this timeline,…
First 1,000 Days Critical to Child Health….. Govt, UNICEF Tells Bauchi Mothers, Families
By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has intensified efforts to promote early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and improved nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as part of activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week. Speaking at a media briefing in Bauchi, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said the campaign aligns with this year’s global theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” He said the…
Teenage pregnancy fuelling obstetric fistula in Nigeria – Gem Hub
By: Prosper Okoye Nigeria’s high rate of teenage pregnancy is worsening cases of obstetric fistula, health advocates warned on Friday, saying poor maternal healthcare and delays in emergency treatment continue to leave many young women with preventable childbirth injuries. The warning came from Nigerian non-governmental organisation Gem Hub Initiative as the world marked the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. Obstetric fistula is a severe childbirth injury caused mainly by prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, particularly emergency caesarean section services. The condition can leave women unable to control…
Selling children to survive: Afghan fathers forced to make impossible choices
Hundreds of men gather at a dusty square in Chaghcharan, Afghanistan, at the break of dawn, waiting for a lifeline. A BBC report from Tuesday, May 19, details how laborers line the roadsides in the Ghor provincial capital, hoping for any available employment. The stakes are absolute: securing a job determines whether their families eat that day. ’’The likelihood of success, however, is low. Juma Khan, 45, has found just three days of work in the past six weeks that paid between 150 to 200 Afghani ($2.35-$3.13; £1.76-£2.34) per day. “My…
FG Capacity for Infrastructure Finance Strengthened by New Tax Laws, Says Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the harmonised tax laws will strengthen the finances of the federal government’s to fund infrastructure and other National developmental programs. He made this known during his new year speech, Tinubu said 2026 marks a critical phase in implementing the country’s tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria. Tinubu further emphasised that the reforms are not about raising taxes, but about creating a structural reset, driving harmonisation and strengthening the social contract. He announced that the new tax legislation,…
Call for Better SRH/FP Data Sharing as Bauchi MCH Coordinators Engage MSI
By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Family Planning (FP) Coordinators across the 20 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State have called for strengthened collaboration with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, particularly in the area of data sharing on sexual and reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP) services delivered during community outreach activities. The call was made during the 2026 Family Planning Mobile Outreach Schedule and Work Plan Meeting organised by the MSI Reproductive Choices Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office. Participants described the meeting as timely and critical to…
Bauchi Governor Presents N878.1bn 2026 Budget to State Assembly
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Thursday presented a budget proposal of N878,152,907,900 for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration. Tagged the “Budget of Consolidation and Sustainability,” the governor said the proposal is designed to strengthen financial reporting, boost revenue generation, and sustain ongoing development programmes. Mohammed said the fiscal plan is premised on an oil production estimate of 1.6 million barrels per day, a benchmark oil price of $68 per barrel, and an exchange rate of N1,440 to the…