In a bit to implement the maternal and child health component of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P) successfully, the FCT Administration has inaugurated the Conditional Cash Transfer Committee.

While inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Demola Onakomaiya, said the implementation of SURE-P MCH in FCT will bring about reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity as well as mortality, adding that it will place FCT on track in achieving the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goal by rapidly sealing up the Midwives Services Scheme MSS currently being implemented by National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Onakomaiya stated that the FCT Administration recognizes not only the high ratios of maternal and neonatal mortalities in the territory but also attaches great importance and is committed to providing fund and support for the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths.

He further informed that the FCT Administration has in recent times embarked on free ante-natal care, free under -five medical services, employment of more health workers, implementation of approved new salary scales for them, building of more hospitals and primary health care centres in the rural areas.

He said all achievements are aimed at making health care delivery services in the FCT more accessible and affordable for the inhabitants of the FCT.

The Secretary assured that the committee is being inaugurated in order to further cushion the effect of subsidy removal, mostly on vulnerable and poor women and their household.

Responding on behalf of the committee members, the project manager SURE-P Maternal Child Health, Dr. UFO Okoli, said the program has been successfully implemented in Kuje and Karu Primary Health Care Centres and has helped to refine operational approaches for the pilot program which will be formally launched in FCT in February, 2013.

She added that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program will build on the successfully implemented Midwives Services Scheme (MSS) that has delivered visible results within three years of implementation