Delivery by skilled birth attendant compulsory in FCT – Mandate Secretary
By Philip Yatai
The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says delivery by skilled birth attendants is compulsory in the territory.
The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a capacity development training for health managers in the FCT.
Fasawe said that Nigeria was being rated as the capital city of maternal mortality in the world, adding that the move was to ensure no woman died on account of child birth in the FCT.
She reiterated the FCT’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality, adding that it was unacceptable for a woman to die whilst bringing life to earth.
She said: “It is compulsory that you deliver your baby with a skilled birth attendant.
“There’s no reason for anyone to die due to child delivery and we are facing it headstrong.
“We look for pregnant women; we give them health insurance; they get to the hospital and they go back and tell other persons.”
Fasawe said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike had declared free health insurance for every pregnant woman in FCT so that money would not be the obstacle to accessing health services.
She urged FCT to take advantage of the free health insurance for pregnant women in the territory to be able access free healthcare services, including caesarean section.
“Just to the nearest family healthcare centre, register and access free healthcare.
“So, this is what we are hoping for, with this deliberate operational plan and collaboration with the Federal Ministry and all stakeholders through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
“SWAp is simply where we all put our needs in one basket and another basket that would match our needs and theses needs come from available data.
“If we get data showing us that certain conditions are on the increase somewhere, we will go into that basket, and take money to resolve that situation,” she said.
Fasawe explained that the training was initiated by the Federal Minister of Health and the SWAp Coordination Office.
She said that the training was part of leadership health strengthening and planning, towards a rational, realistic, pragmatic, and comprehensive plan that informs health budgets for FCT residents.
“This underscores a shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient FCT, and one that can serve as a model for the nation and contribute to the National One Health conversation,” she said. (NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
