Midwife Hafsat Muhammad Alto made a relentless commitment to rewriting the narrative of maternal care at the Kura Local Government Area (LGA).
At Gundutse Primary Healthcare (PHC), pregnant women work day and night to ensure timely and considerate care. Despite being a Level 2 PHC facility that serves as a critical access point for mothers and pediatric care, PHC is not yet designated as a Basic Healthcare Delivery Fund (BHCPF) facility.
The facility sees more than 40 patients every day, with many women traveling up to 8km, often on foot or by motorcycle. However, rising food costs, poor prenatal compliance, and limited health education further exacerbate maternal risks, especially in hard-to-reach areas with poor road conditions and high transportation costs.
In these cases, Hafsat intervenes. She spoke of the recent emergency, explaining, “A woman has been bleeding so much. I didn’t wait, I rushed to the LGA general hospital. She survived.” But not all cases are over.
One woman initially resisted delivery to the facility, but in agony arrives at Hafsat’s home. Despite Hafsat’s heroic intervention and emergency hospital movement, both the mother and the baby were lost. “We tried our best, but the delay in delivery took their lives,” she said quietly.
Beyond emergency situations, Hafsat is a reliable family planning provider. “Every day I accept around 15 women at home. They like privacy and feel safe to discuss their concerns with me.”
Sulaiman Salisu Kura, chairman of the Kura Ward Development Committee (WDC), said, “Women like Hafsat are invaluable. Their selfless service reflects our cultural and religious values.
Despite her efforts, Hafsat faces overwhelming challenges from understaffed facilities to high maternal anemia rates. The lack of a structured referral system and limited transport options for emergencies have already overgrown services. Without BHCPF support, facilities will struggle to maintain important products and training for their staff.
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Nigeria’s Health Sector Update Plan (2023-2026) identifies the improvements in maternal healthcare and community involvement as an important priority through its four-point agenda, particularly the second pillar. Hafsat’s work exemplifies this vision, but also highlights the urgent need for systematic investments to expand its impact.
This is an appeal to policy makers and related stakeholders.
We will prioritize the inclusion of Gundutse PHC in BHCPF funding, invest in improving emergency transportation systems and developing capacity to provide quality healthcare services for healthcare workers like HAFSAT.
“Saving a mother should not depend on personal sacrifice,” Hafsat said. “We need support to make safe delivery a rule, not an exception.”
