The FCT Minister of State Mariya Mahmoud, has inaugurated the “Renewed Hope Medical Mission” in the Bwari area council, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to providing qualitative healthcare services to residents.
She said that the aim of the medical mission was to provide comprehensive healthcare services to underserved communities in the FCT.
The minister added that the enlarged programme also sought to address the critical health challenges faced by vulnerable populations, particularly in areas with high maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates.
She noted that Nigeria was one of the countries with high maternal death, child morbidity and mortality.
She said that the situation resulted from poor ante-natal care attendance, low uptake of immunisation and family planning services.
Ms Mahmoud said that rapid population expansion leading to increased demand for health services had posed serious health challenges to the FCT administration hence the need to take seriously the medical needs of the people.
She stressed the FCT administration’s commitment to improving the primary healthcare system, by renovation, upgrading and building of more health centres across the six area councils.
The minister said that the administration was also committed to employing more healthcare workers.
She used the occasion to speak on the danger signs in pregnancy, importance of ANC attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, and importance of immunisation in preventing childhood diseases.
Mahmoud listed some of the diseases that could be prevented as polio, TB, pneumonia, pertussis, diphtheria, measles, and importance of screening for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, and others.
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said that despite recent improvements in access to quality healthcare for residents of the FCT, many communities remained underserved.
She said that the FCT administration recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to healthcare, that addresses the root causes of healthcare challenges and provides sustainable solutions.
