FCTA to reduce maternal, infant mortality

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has declared zero tolerance for infant and maternal mortality.

The FCT Minister of State for Health, Dr Mariya Mahmud, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, emphasised this at a medical outreach with the theme: “Renewed Hope Medical Mission,” held in Kuje Area Council of the Abuja on Wednesday.

The United Nations Children’s Fund’s latest data showed that Nigeria records 107.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Fasawe stated “The truth is health care is essential to life. If we build all the roads and we don’t have good health care, we can’t enjoy the roads. We are thinking of the human development index, the social determinant of health, and the physical determinant of health and saying health is not just the absence of disease, it is your total well-being, that’s why today, we have six departments. We have the department for antenatal care for pregnant women, general outpatient care, paediatrics, we have dental care, and we also have health insurance that will guarantee that even after today, you continue to have access to everything you’re seeing here.

“The thrust of this government is to renew hope and when we see programmes like this, it is to renew hope. We also want to thank the people of Kuje for their cooperation.”

Fasawe said the government was leaving no one behind in the campaign for improved health care.

“We don’t care about your party or religious affiliation. I want to reiterate that the government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to improving health indices. It is not acceptable for a pregnant woman to die because of complications. It is also not acceptable to us for a child to die at birth. That’s why there are over 360 healthcare centres in the FCT to give healthcare.

“We also have a food and nutrition session where when we see patients, we can identify malnourished children. We don’t only teach but we demonstrate, we have free HIV testing centres and a follow-up centre as well. Despite what Nigeria is going through, with programmes like this, there is hope for the country,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary. FCTA HSE, who represented the mandated secretary, Dr. Babagana Adams, assured of the HSE’s commitment to ensure a good health service delivery for the residents of the FCT.