By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on community leaders to champion maternal healthcare in their areas.
The Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who made the call at the commemoration of the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day, in Abuja, said the young people should also take responsibility for their reproductive choices.
Fasawe pointed out that despite the naturalness of pregnancy, the reality remains that childbirth is still risky, especially in settings where access to skilled care is limited.
She maintained that many women die not because complications are unavoidable, but because timely care was out of reach, health information was missing, or facilities were under-resourced.
Represented by the director of nursing services in the secretariat, Dr Ijeoma Bada, she said the society must work together to break down the barriers that keep women from accessing care be it ignorance, poverty, distance, or harmful cultural practices, and must ensure that health facilities are not only available, but also welcoming, responsive, and well-equipped.
She stated that improving maternal health is not the responsibility of the health sector alone, as it also requires the active participation of everyone-from policymakers to religious leaders, from husbands to
adolescents, from media houses to civil society organisations.
Fasawe disclosed that as part of this year’s commemoration, the FCT Administration, through the Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, in collaboration with partners-has lined up impactful
interventions, including: “Mass awareness campaigns on the importance of antenatal care, facility-based delivery, postnatal care, and family planning: Community engagements with Ward Development Committees (WIDCs), traditional
leaders, and youth groups to deepen trust in our healthcare system.
Distribution of maternal gift packs to encourage positive health-seeking behaviors;
And the provision of “Renewed Hope” medical kits to Primary Health Care (PHC)
workers to strengthen their capacity to save lives.”
