FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu has showered gifts of delivery kits and baby items on 120 mothers of newborns in selected Primary Health Care Centres across the six area councils of the FCT.
Special Adviser to the minister on Media Austin Elemue, in a statement, said the gesture was part of activities to celebrate the New Year.
The statement listed selected primary healthcare facilities visited to include Aleyita Primary healthcare in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Dutse Alhaji primary healthcare centre in Bwari area council, and Township Clinic primary healthcare centre in Gwagwalada area council.
Others are Township Clinic primary healthcare centre in Kwali area council, Kuje Comprehensive Health Centre in Kuje area council and Township Clinic primary healthcare centre in Abaji area council.According to the Statement Dr. Aliyu, who made the donation also gave a token of undisclosed amount of cash to some nursing mothers.Presenting some of the items to beneficiaries at Kuje Comprehensive Healthcare Centre in Kuje Area Council, the minister described the successful delivery recorded in various primary healthcare centres as a bundle of joy, just as she prayed that joy would continue to radiate in the Federal Capital Territory in 2023 and beyond.
The minister who was represented by the Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Justina Pawa, tasked mothers on early training of their children, noting that children are gifts from God.
While calling on mothers to accept all vaccines given during government approved immunization campaigns, the minister used the occasion to remind them of the need to ensure that their babies complete the routine immunization before the age of two.
“Remember to take care of yourselves and attend post natal clinics and continue to take your routine medicines. On my part, I will continue to identify with you and sharing in your joy.
“Since I came to office in 2019, I have continued to implement and support initiatives that would improve the health of mothers and children particularly towards reducing maternal and child deaths from preventable causes, also empowering women to contribute meaningfully to the upkeep of themselves and their families.
“I will also encourage you to always contribute to the growth of the family in particular and community at large. All babies born today are welcome and I pray to God to continue to grant mothers and babies good health, while the fathers continue to have the means to support their families,” Aliyu stated.
Earlier, one of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Ibrahim Kudirat, who delivered a bouncing baby boy at 12:01am today, in Kuje Comprehensive Health Centre thanked the minister for the kind gesture, adding that the items and cash donation would assist mothers at this early stage of delivery.
Other beneficiaries are, Mrs. Mary Olayinka, who delivered at 12:40am, at the Dutse Makaranta primary healthcare centre in Bwari area council, while Mrs. Idoko Christina, delivered a baby girl at 1:52am, amongst other deliveries.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of food items to FCT Minister of State by the community head of Aleyita in appreciation of her efforts in boosting community health.