FCT Inaugurates Taskforce On Maternal Healthcare

Abuja, FCT - The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has established a taskforce of senior health experts to combat maternal mortality within the city under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortal Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). This initiative, a federal government program, targets 172 high-burden Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 states, which account for approximately 55% of all maternal deaths in the country.

The FCT program aims to increase health facility utilization and skilled birth attendance by at least 60%, with the ultimate goal of reducing maternal mortality nationwide by 30%.

Dr. Dalopo Fasawe, the mandate secretary of the FCT Health and Environment Services, emphasized the importance of action during the taskforce's inauguration, stating that "this is not a day for speeches and talking. It is a day for call to action." Fasawe highlighted the administration's commitment to eliminating maternal mortality in the FCT, noting that the taskforce will have ongoing roles as long as women continue to give birth in the region.

Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, the national coordinator of MAMII, explained that the initiative is part of the federal government's strategy to significantly reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria. Two years after the program's launch, Adeyanju reported a 17% drop in maternal mortality, acknowledging the initiative's progress. However, he identified sociocultural barriers as the primary reason for the low utilization of skilled birth attendants, which contribute to maternal deaths during childbirth.

Adeyanju urged the FCT MAMII taskforce to reverse this trend and encourage more pregnant women to seek primary healthcare facilities, particularly those offering free child delivery services and cesarean sections.