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Nigeria: Govt Introduces Free Ante-Natal Care
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This Day (Lagos)
25 June 2008
Posted to the web 26 June 2008
Damilola Oyedele
Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced the introduction of free ante-natal care in its hospitals from August 1, 2008, to ensure a remarkable reduction in the rate of maternal and infant mortality.
FCT Minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said this was one of the decisions reached at the end of FCT Executive Committee Meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Modibbo, who was represented by Director of Medical and Diagnostic Services, Dr Enefiok Benjamin Udofia, stated that the gesture will ensure an increase in uptake and quality of Ante-natal care services by 20 per cent yearly in the FCT. Nigeria, with only two per cent of the world's population, contributes 10 per cent of world maternal deaths. Each year, 60,000 women die from pregnancy-related deaths, with majority occurring in the North, in which FCT is situated.
The decision is also expected to make health services available to all pregnant women, irrespective of their financial standing, adding that most of these deaths are largely preventable with good ante-natal care and prompt treatment of obstetric emergencies.
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