By Ayoni M. Agbabiaka
Federal Capital Territory Administration has commenced the first round of the 2014 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week with the aim of delivering an integrated package of interventions which are cost effective, high impact and result oriented.
Flagging off the exercise, the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, represented by the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, said the development is vital as it provides the needed visibility for the programme and gives the official seal for its successful accomplishment.
He said the platform would also be used to showcase the political will on issues bordering on the welfare of the women and children.
Senator Mohammed said the theme of the exercise centred on ‘A Package of Care for a Lifetime of Better Health for the Family’, was very timely because it affords the administration the opportunity to further strengthen actions that address the state of health care delivery in the territory.
According to the minister, “The commitment of the FCT administration to ensuring healthcare programming service delivery cannot be over emphasised, it has put in place programs designed to improve the health and welfare of FCT women and children such as, the free antenatal care programme, free under-five health care service and distribution of long lasting insecticide nets to household”.
In his welcome address, Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya, said the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in FCT “is a week dedicated to providing integrated, comprehensive services which are especially targetted towards women and children geared towards improving their health survival and well being saving our children and mothers”
“Today, the FCTA is once again demonstrating highest level of commitment to safe mother and children. Together we would achieve not only the delivery of improved quality of maternal of child health services but also community involvement and ownership
“The FCT Administration is humbly soliciting for your commitment, participation and involvement in all health care activities. This is because we believe that if given the needed encouragement at each opportunity, without neglecting the small steps of progress- together we can achieve it.”
Chairman, FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), Alhaji Kajiji Altine, said, “All activities that will be conducted during this week are geared towards impacting positively on the lives of women and children. These activities are all aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging uptake and utilisation of the services that will be provided.”
He said, “Board members and staff of the FCT PHCB will actively monitor and supervise implementation of activities during the week to ensure that every eligible woman and child is reached with the relevant interventions.”
However, Secretary, FCT PHCB, Dr. Ridwan Mohammed, urge the minister to upgrade the primary health care centers in FCt as all the general hospitals in the territory has been upgraded to first class hospital.
The one-week intervention healthcare services will provide free vitamin A, deworming of children and healthcare tips on how to keep the environment clean.
