Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality through strategic interventions, including the provision of free antenatal care, delivery services, and health insurance for pregnant women in the nation’s capital.
The Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, made this known during the flag-off of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) in Abuja.
The event which was in commemoration of the 2025 World Health Day has a theme “ Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,”.
Dr. Fasawe, emphasized the importance of maternal and child health to Nigeria’s development.
According to her, “It is unfortunate that out of every 100,000 women who give birth globally, about 397 die, and 70 percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria sadly leading that statistic,”.
However, she assured that the Renewed Hope Initiative championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu is focused on reversing the trend.
She added that, “every pregnant woman in the FCT is entitled to free health insurance,” she announced. “And whether you give birth vaginally or via cesarean section, it is completely free.”
While praising the advocacy role of the media Dr Fassawe urged journalists to amplify the message that maternal deaths are preventable.
She also called on pregnant women to partner with the government by keeping antenatal appointments, choosing safe facility-based deliveries, and completing postnatal care including vaccinations for newborns.
“This fight is not ours alone it’s also yours,” she said to the women in attendance. “We stand today because you, our pregnant women, are the guests of honour”, she noted.
The launch event served not only to commemorate World Health Day but also to symbolize a new era of “Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures” for Nigerian mothers and children. With states and local governments signing on to compacts that bind them to these health targets, both speakers emphasized that this is a nationwide mandate that must be fulfilled.
“We are ensuring that pregnant women in the FCT do not pay a kobo for antenatal care, delivery, or postnatal services.
“They will also be enrolled in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme at no cost,” she stated.
She added that the initiative aligns with the FCTA’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage.
Also speaking, the Representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the National Coordinator Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said the initiative is a practical response to the President’s directive that “no woman should die as a result of childbirth.”
He said Nigeria currently contributes about 20 percent of global maternal deaths, a statistic that has driven the government’s resolve to take urgent action.
“MAMII is not just a slogan,” he said. “It is a comprehensive programme aimed at ensuring that every pregnancy results in a healthy baby and a healthy mother. From providing mama kits and starter packs to revitalizing health facilities and offering transport vouchers, this initiative touches every part of the journey to motherhood.”
“With interventions like the MAMII initiative, we are hopeful that every child will be born healthy, with the opportunity to grow, thrive, and prosper,” he said.
Dr. Mulombo also pledged WHO’s commitment to ensuring accountability in the rollout of free health services.
“As the Mandate Secretary has announced that insurance will be free, I will monitor to make sure it is truly free and that you benefit from it,” he affirmed, emphasizing that a “healthy beginning leads to a hopeful future.”
The initiative, flagged off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) includes free health insurance for pregnant women, access to free cesarean sections, mama delivery kits, and transportation vouchers, among others.
Supporting the initiative, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, lauded the FCTA’s leadership and reiterated WHO’s backing for the MAMII project.
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