As part of effort to bridge the gap in Maternal and Child Mortalities, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has inaugurated the FCT Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre.
While inaugurating the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre, the minister revealed that Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 report, indicates that Maternal and Child Mortalities are unacceptably high in Nigeria with wide gap in subnational performance.
The minister who was represented by the General Manager FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr. Francis Alu, however, noted that the progress towards closing the gap and reversing the trend was rather slow and projections showed practical impossibility of achieving targets for maternal and child mortalities reductions.
Aliyu noted that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, had a year ago, declared a National Emergency in Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria, with the goal to reduce the current levels of Maternal and Child Mortality by at least 50 percent at the end of year 2021, stressing that the 36 States and FCT are expected to establish the State/FCT Emergency Intervention Centres after due documentation of baseline indicators.
The Minister further stated that the survey presented in 2019 indicates that the FCT performed better than most states in the north central zone, stressing that the FCT neonatal mortality rate was 27 per 1000 livebirths.
According to her, “FCT recorded a coverage of 49% on fully immunized children which is above the National average of 31%, and Modern Family Planning prevalence at 20% against National 12%, Attendance at Ante Natal Care 88% against National 67%, Skilled birth attendance in the facility at 63% against National 39%,
“Access to portable water in FCT is 68% of households against 66% National average. Spousal violence, prevalence of sickle cell disease and childhood anaemia are all better in FCT than the National average”.
Aliyu, however, frowned at the 5 percent prevalent of female genital mutilation practice in the Federal Capital Territory, noting that though it is below the national average, but unacceptable in the nation’s capital.
She affirmed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling funds, the FCT Administration has prioritised the funding of health activities, revealing that in 2020, the administration has funded several reproductive, maternal, child health, adolescent health plus nutrition (RMNCAH + N) activities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, stated that with the inauguration of the FCT Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre, the 50 percent target by 2021 would be met
He noted that Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre would eliminate parallel programme implementation by government and non-government organisations, develop a single workplan for their health activities, ensure universal service delivery and increase access to quality care irrespective of place of residence in the FCT.
