By Willies Ugo in Gombe | Oct. 14, 2025
Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, has called on women in the state to prioritise early hospital visits immediately after confirming pregnancy, saying the practice is key to improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Dr. Jatau, who spoke during the commissioning of a newly constructed Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in Bambam, Balanga Local Government Area, expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing trend of pregnant women delaying hospital visits until late in their pregnancies.
According to him, such delays contribute to the state’s poor maternal health indicators and must be urgently addressed through public enlightenment and stronger community engagement.
He cautioned against the cultural habit of concealing pregnancy until the eighth month before visiting the hospital, insisting there is no justification for such practices. “There is no need hiding your pregnancy status in the beginning since it will eventually show,” he said.
The Deputy Governor explained that the new PHC in Bambam is one of 228 similar facilities being established across all political wards in Gombe State, as part of the Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration’s strategic initiative to expand access to quality healthcare services.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to delivering affordable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare, noting that the Yahaya-led administration has prioritised primary healthcare as a foundation for broader health sector reform.
Jatau stressed that the new health facility reflects the governor’s vision to bring essential medical services closer to the people, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, and enhance the overall wellbeing of citizens.
He also urged residents of Bambam to take ownership of the new facility, ensure its proper maintenance, and utilise its services effectively.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, said the project was fully funded by the state government from inception to completion.
He noted that the centre is equipped with a maternity and delivery unit, pharmacy, staff quarters, and other essential facilities, describing it as a model for community-based healthcare delivery.
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Also speaking, the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Salihu Jatau, commended the state government for its commitment to improving health infrastructure, assuring that the facility would be effectively managed for the benefit of residents.
In his goodwill message, the Folo Dadiya and paramount ruler of Dadiya Chiefdom, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar Galadima, expressed appreciation to Governor Yahaya’s administration for its sustained attention to the developmental needs of the Dadiya people.
