BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
The federal government said it has approved the sum of N25bn for the upgrade of healthcare facilities nationwide, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate made this known at a press briefing in Abuja, to commemorate the 2024 Safe Motherhood Day, with the theme, “Investing in Maternal Health for a Sustainable Future.”
In a statement by the director of information and public relations in the ministry, Patricia Deworitshe, Professor Pate also reiterated the federal government’s readiness to reduce maternal mortality and newborn child deaths by providing adequate funding to the existing 8800 healthcare facilities across the country.
The minister pointed out that safe motherhood can be achieved when a pregnant woman receives all pillars of care during and after pregnancy, such as antenatal care, skilled and facility-based delivery, quality services, as well as postnatal care, family planning, postpartum family planning and post-abortion family planning.
He called on all stakeholders, development partners, religious and traditional leaders, and the media to educate the general public to achieve the desired objective.
“We have to ensure that all women in Nigeria have access to quality maternal care, irrespective of where you come from, whether they’re from rural areas or not, whether they’re educated or not so that we don’t leave any woman behind” he stressed.
The minister noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently prioritised Nigerian citizens in his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that health is a key part of the Agenda.
While recalling that he had unveiled the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative in December, with a compact between the 36 State Governors, development partners and the federal government, to ensure improved population health outcomes in a sector-wide manner, Professor Pate, further mentioned that the government aims to reach at least 7 million pregnant women through those services and at least 6 million newborn births on an annual basis.
“That is an aspiration, we are not there yet, but it is what we should be aiming for, so that no woman is left behind when it comes to access to quality maternal care, access to skilled birth attendants, facility birth delivery and Non-communicable diseases screening, like hypertension, diabetes in pregnancy and family planning and to ensure affordability to the vulnerable group fund as the NHIA provides cover to reduce access to care for women”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom identified the three worst maternal health complications which contribute to 55 per cent of cases of maternal mortality in Nigeria as, postpartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia and unsafe abortion, urging that it requires a concerted and collective effort by the pregnant woman herself, her immediate and extended family members, community and health personnel at primary, secondary and tertiary levels to ensure the safety of a pregnant woman and her child during pregnancy, delivery and after delivery.
Daju said that to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has commenced the 4 point Agenda of the health sector, noting that safe motherhood is a key priority of the health agenda, as over 120,000 front line health workers ‘ capacities will be built and additional primary Health care will receive funds under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to cater for mothers and Children.
To discharge its mandate and effort to improve maternal health, the permanent secretary said that the ministry in collaboration with partners reviewed the safe motherhood documents in line with best practices to address the high prevalence of postpartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia and unsafe abortion and to guide states in the implementation, thereby issues affecting maternal health in Nigeria will be addressed.
Daju, expressed her appreciation for the commitment of the stakeholders in improving the quality of lives of mothers and children, adding that their support and effort in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria should not be overemphasized.
“Together, we can build a country where every mother has the opportunity to experience the joy of childbirth in safety and dignity. We can create a future where every mother and newborn receive the care and support needed to thrive, ” She stated.
Highlight of the event was the launching of documents on labour Guide, Guidelines for Community use of misoprostol, and D-Calibrated drape, by the coordinating minister of health supported by the minister of state for health, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the permanent secretary, Daju Kachollom.