BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said that the rapid population expansion in the nation’s capital, with increased demand for health services has posed serious health challenges to the administration.
Minister of state for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud stated this while flagging off a free medical outreach in Bwari area council on Friday.
Mahmoud also noted that Nigeria is one of the African nations with high maternal and child morbidity and mortality, resulting from poor Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance, low facility-based delivery, low uptake of immunisation and family planning services, especially in hard to reach communities.
The minister, however, stated that the administration is committed to improving the primary healthcare system, through renovation, upgrading and building of more Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the six area councils of the FCT, as well as employment of more healthcare workers, to address some of these challenges.
In a statement by her special assistant (media), Austine Elemue,
Mahmoud explained that the free medical services to Abuja residents in different areas of medical needs is part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Medical Mission.
The minister used the occasion to speak on the importance of ANC attendance, immunisation, in preventing childhood diseases,
screening for HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, and exclusive breast feeding.
Speaking earlier, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted that despite recent improvements in quality healthcare for residents of the FCT, many communities have remained underserved.
Fasawe explained that the scope of the medical services provided include, health promotion, antenatal care (ANC), immunisation services, free HIV screening, screening for diabetes, hypertension and sickle cell diseases, free dental health services, nutritional assessment, amongst others.
He noted that free medical missions are global best practice used to provide targeted medical and surgical care to meet the health needs of the underserved and vulnerable populations.
The mandate secretary also disclosed that the medical outreach attended to 1,578 outpatients, with 42 referred to Wuse and Asokoro hospitals, for surgery, while dental services were provided to 302 patients, including 45 extractions, 12 dentures, and five operculectomies, with 48 referrals to Wuse General Hospital.
He continued, “For eye care, we saw 931 patients, provided reading glasses to 531 of them, and made 91 referrals to Asokoro Hospital, where 29 cataract extractions have been completed. Antenatal care was provided to 74 women, and with 49 enrolled in health insurance.”