By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Over 3,370 residents across the Capital Territory enjoyed free medical outreach services offered by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, in different areas of medical needs in fulfillment of the Renewed Hope Medical Mission.
The scope of the medical services provided include, health promotion, antenatal care (ANC), immunization services, free HIV screening, screening for diabetes, hypertension and sickle cell diseases, free dental health services, nutritional assessment among others.
The Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud who flagged off the free medical outreach in Bwari Area Council highlighted the FCT Administration’s commitment to meet the health needs of the people , in addition to providing the best health services.
However, Mahmoud noted that Nigeria is one of the African nations with high maternal and child morbidity and mortality due to poor Antenatal care attendance, low facility-based delivery, low uptake of immunization and family planning services, especially in hard—to—reach communities.
The Minister further noted that with the rapid population expansion, there is an increasing demand for health services, thereby posing serious health challenges to the Administration.
Owing to some of these identified challenges, she disclosed that the FCT Administration is committed to improving the primary healthcare system, such as renovation, upgrading and building of more primary health centers across the 6 area councils, and employment of more healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud spoke on the danger signs in pregnancy, importance of ANC attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, importance of immunization in preventing childhood diseases such as polio, TB, pneumonia, pertussis, diphtheria, measles, importance of screening for HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, among others.
Earlier, the Mandate Secretary Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted that despite recent improvements in access to quality healthcare for residents of the Federal Capital Territory, many communities remain underserved.
She noted that free medical missions are global best practice used to provide targeted medical and surgical care to meet the health needs of the underserved and vulnerable populations.
“This strategy has been successfully adopted in many parts of Nigeria, and it takes healthcare directly to those who need it most through mobile health service delivery,” she added.
Fasawe emphasized that the success recorded in the last free medical outreach held in Kuje area council gave birth to the expansion of the 2024 medical mission.
According to her, “We attended to 1,578 general outpatients, with 42 referred to Wuse and Asokoro Hospitals for surgery.
“Dental services were provided to 302 patients, including 45 extractions, 12 dentures, and 5 operculectomies, with 48 referrals to Wuse Hospital.’
“For eye care, we saw 931 patients, provided reading glasses to 531 of them, and made 91 referrals to Asokoro Hospital, where 29 cataract extractions have been completed. Antenatal care was provided to 74 women, and with 49 enrolled in health insurance.”
Mahmoud, also carried out consultation on some patients.
