Tzar Oluigbo

When 16-month-old Babangida was brought to the Taimaka outpatient clinic in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, he was already severely malnourished. His mother, Asmau, was only 19. By the time they arrived at the health facility, the concern was visible in his tiny body, evident in the urgency of the assessment by the health workers, uncertain what would happen next. He weighed 4.4 kg on arrival.

blog Victoria Ifeanyichukwu, a mother of two from Imo State, arrived at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, seeking care after a difficult first pregnancy left her with a vaginal tear, living with incontinence. Clinics she visited offered little help, and the few times she sought treatment, she was told to "wait until my next pregnancy," she said. Years passed, and the condition dictated her movements. "When I got home, I discovered that the tear was deep.