In order to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV in the Federal Capital Territory, especially in rural areas, the FCT Administration has trained 72 midwives.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, who stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, said the trained midwives are presently serving in the Midwives Service Scheme. He said the training was conducted in collaboration with UNICEF in preparation for the scale up of 'Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission' (PMTCT) services at Public Health Centre facilities across the territory.

Senator Mohammed disclosed that the FCT Primary Health Care Board has taken over five Public Health Centre facilities in Apo, Wasa, Shere, Pegi and Kubwa owner occupier estate to serve as models for the scheme.

According to him, the FCT Administration in collaboration with UNFPA last month also trained middle cadre family health service providers from public and private health facilities on modern methods of family planning technology. He also disclosed that the administration has procured vaccine carriers to support routine and supplemental outreach vaccination activities.

According to him, to ensure that all residents are carried along in all government programmes and policies, a taskforce on 'Polio Eradication Initiative and Routine Immunization' has been inaugurated by the administration and comprises of the six area council chairmen, FCT graded chiefs as well as religious leaders in order to mobilize the populace on the need for polio eradication and routine immunization.