FCTA Moves to Boost Reproductive Health
By: Doris Jonah
In its continued commitment to end maternal and infant mortality in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Administration has intensified efforts to improve reproductive health services as part of broader strategies to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.
This was disclosed by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, during the 2025 Second Quarter meeting of the Product Introduction and Market Coordination Mechanism (PIMCM) Committee held recently in Abuja.
The committee, which was inaugurated in November 2024, convened to review and validate findings from the Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, and Newborn Health (SRMNH) market survey, develop a work plan for PIMCM activities, and assess stakeholder updates for further action.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of HSES, Dr. Baba Gana Adam, Dr. Fasawe emphasised that increasing awareness and improving reproductive health are essential to promoting the well-being of women and children before, during, and after pregnancy, ensuring optimal care and reducing risks that may lead to mortality.
In a presentation to the committee, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) revealed that gaps in capacity building remain a major challenge in the SRMNH sector across the FCT. Responding to this, Dr. Fasawe called on committee members to devise strategies to strengthen the FCT healthcare workforce to ensure sustainability and improved service delivery.
The Mandate Secretary commended committee members for their dedication and urged them to make meaningful contributions that will positively impact women’s reproductive health and significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the territory.
Also speaking, the Acting Director General of the FCT Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Dr. Olugbenga Bello, described reproductive health as a fundamental human right. He charged the committee to develop a robust plan to improve access to family planning commodities, citing the persistent issue of stock-outs in health facilities.
According to him, access to family planning is central to reducing maternal and infant mortality.
In her presentation, the Acting Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), Dr. Ruqqaya Wamako, noted that the PIMCM was established to provide end-to-end leadership, coordination, and oversight of SRMNH market stewardship and product introduction in the FCT. She emphasized its role in harmonizing product availability and ensuring efficient service delivery.
To open the session, the Acting Director of HSES Health Planning, Research and Statistics (HPRS), and Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Theresa Nwachukwu, outlined the meeting’s objectives, including validating findings, developing a targeted work plan, and prioritizing goals to be achieved before the next quarterly meeting in August 2025.
Meanwhile, CHAI representative David Aladesomi presented findings from the SRMNH market assessment, highlighting the wide range of sexual and reproductive health products and services designed to support individual reproductive needs. These include contraceptives, prenatal vitamins, mental health support supplies, obstetric commodities, and neonatal care items.
