In celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled two significant health initiatives: the complimentary distribution of Mother-Baby Kits and the Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project.
The free-streaming-24-hours-launch/” title=”Kava.tv Debuts with Exciting … Streaming for the First 24 Hours-Don't Miss Out!”>official launch took place at Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja, led by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud.
Dr. Mahmoud highlighted that these programs embody a comprehensive approach to health-ensuring the safety of mothers and newborns during childbirth while simultaneously protecting families from the harmful effects of indoor air pollution.
She emphasized that these efforts reflect the Administration’s dedication to addressing both urgent healthcare challenges and promoting sustainable environmental health.
The Mother-Baby Kits include vital medical supplies and consumables designed to facilitate safe labor, delivery, and neonatal care for women and infants throughout the FCT.
“Every mother deserves access to the necessary resources and support during childbirth, and every newborn should receive proper care from the very start,” Dr. Mahmoud affirmed.
She described the Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project as an innovative and proactive measure aimed at reducing indoor air pollution in vulnerable households.
By substituting traditional polluting fuels like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene with efficient Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stoves, the initiative targets a critical but often overlooked health hazard: respiratory illnesses caused by smoke inhalation.
These two transformative programs are integral components of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to revitalize health services and environmental conditions in the FCT.
Dr. Mahmoud also noted that the Administration has enhanced its healthcare workforce through better working conditions and targeted training, alongside infrastructure improvements such as hospital renovations and the creation of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, all aimed at boosting service delivery and resilience.
Marking Nigeria’s 65th year of independence, she called on citizens to renew their commitment to fostering an FCT where every household enjoys improved health, every childbirth is secure, and every breath is free from harmful pollutants.
Earlier in the event, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, highlighted the persistent challenge of high maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria.
She expressed concern that despite advancements, many women still perish during childbirth, and numerous newborns fail to reach their first birthday.
“A significant factor contributing to these avoidable deaths is the lack of access to clean, safe, and essential delivery supplies,” she explained.
Dr. Fasawe underscored that the Renewed Hope Mother-Baby Kit initiative aims to close this gap by providing fundamental yet crucial items to ensure hygienic and safe deliveries for both mothers and their babies.
She reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment, under the leadership of Barr. Nyesom Wike, to prioritizing strategic health interventions that directly improve the wellbeing of rural communities.
During the launch at Asokoro General Hospital, pregnant women in attendance were also gifted free Baby Kits and LPG cooking gas as part of the program’s outreach.
Distinguished guests at the ceremony included Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi, Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs; Dr. Baba-Gana Adams, Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat; Abubakar Ahmadu, Acting Director-General of the FCT Hospital Management Board; and Hajiya Rakiyya Wamako, Acting Executive Secretary of Primary Health Care Development.
