By Asmau Ahmad
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani has inaugurated the FCT Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (FEMCHIC), as part of efforts to bridge the gaps in maternal and child mortalities in the territory.
Speaking while inaugurating the centre, the minister said it would coordinate reproductive, maternal, child health, adolescent health plus nutrition (RMNCAH+N) activities at the primary healthcare level.
Dr Ramatu also said that the centre would eliminate parallel programme implementation by the government and Non-Governmental Organisations.
She explained that the centre would also develop a single work plan for its health activities, ensure universal service delivery and increase access to quantity care irrespective of place of residence in the FCT.
The minister said that Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 Report indicated that maternal and child mortalities were unacceptably high in Nigeria with wide gaps in sub-National performance.
The General Manager of the FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr Francis Alu who represented the minister, said progress toward closing the gaps and reversing the trend was slow and projections showed practical impossibility of achieving reductions.
He noted that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, in 2019 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 per cent at the end of 2021.
He said that the 36 states and FCT were expected to establish the State and FCT Emergency Intervention Centres after due documentation of baseline indicators.
He stated that the survey presented in 2019, indicated that the FCT performed better than most states in the north central zone with some figures better than the zonal and national averages.
He said that the FCT neo-Natal mortality rate was 27 per 1,000 live births.
“FCT recorded a coverage of 49 percent on fully immunised children which is above the National average of 31 percent. Modern Family Planning prevalence at 20 percent against National 12 per cent,
“Attendance at Ante Natal Care 88 percent against National 67 percent and skilled birth attendance in the facility at 63 percent against National 39 percent,” he said.
The minister affirmed that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling funds, the FCT Administration had prioritised the funding of health activities. Aliyu revealed that in 2020, the administration had funded several reproductive, maternal, child health, adolescent health plus nutrition (RMNCAH + N) activities.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Iwot Ndaeyo stated that with the inauguration of the centre, the 50 percent target by 2021 would be met.
He said the terms of reference of the centre include improving awareness and promoting community involvement in interventions to reduce maternal and child mortalities and strengthen coordination, leadership and accountability in RMNCAH+N programmes.
