Build health care institutions — Minister

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, on Saturday urged the six area councils in the FCT to build primary health care institutions to support secondary health care in the area.

Mohammed gave the advice at the launch of the “2012 Maternal and New Born Child Health Week” and inauguration of the Owner-Occupier Primary Health Care Centre, Kubwa, Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for FCT, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, said primary health care institutions would help reduce pressure on general hospitals.

He said the inauguration of the centre in Kubwa was another important milestone that residents in the community would benefit from.

According to him, the FCT administration was working hard to reduce, if not totally eliminate, the incidence of infant and maternal mortality in the capital territory.

The theme for the celebration was “A Package of Care for a Healthy Family,” with the sub-theme, “Clean Environment: Healthy Mother and Child.”

He said the policy of free distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to FCT residents would be re-enforced.

Mohammed said the FCT had achieved over 150 per cent increase in Vitamin A coverage and over 140 per cent in the proportion of children de-wormed compared to last year.

The minister also announced the winners of the 2012 edition of FCT Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week Competition and said Abaji came first, Kwali, second, and Gwagwalada, third.

The Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said the new health centre would improve the well-being of residents, especially pregnant women and children.

Mohammed said the construction of the health centre and equipment cost N50m.

Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr. Peter Yohanna, in his address, said the council had ensured that mothers in the area were given free antenatal services from conception to delivery.

The FCT Coordinator for the World Health Organisation, Dr. Idang Ebong, said access to health care in the rural areas was low and called for an urgent reversal of the trend.

Ebong stressed the need for the officials of the council to monitor all health programmes.

FCTA distributed 150 insecticide-treated nets to mothers and patients, who attended the event.