FCT pledges collaboration to boost child healthcare

FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has pledged close collaboration with professional bodies to expand access to quality healthcare and improve referral systems, ensuring timely surgical interventions for children across urban and rural areas.

Mahmoud, who stated this at the official opening of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter, held in Abuja, reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to advancing paediatric surgical care.

She emphasized the critical role paediatric surgeons play in safeguarding children’s health, highlighting the specialty’s compassion, precision, and resilience in contributing to national well-being.

The Minister acknowledged the challenges facing the healthcare system, including limited infrastructure and skilled manpower shortages, while also recognizing opportunities through technological innovation, improved training, and government reforms.

She, however, commended the association’s dedication to training, research, and mentorship and stressed the importance of preventive care through stronger linkages among healthcare professionals to reduce late presentation of conditions.

The Minister urged participants to focus on practical solutions and actionable recommendations to enhance policy and clinical practice, affirming her office’s openness to ongoing dialogue to improve child health services in the FCT and beyond.

Earlier, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Philip Mshelbwala, noted that Nigeria faces a critical shortage of paediatric surgeons, with an alarming ratio of specialists to patients that demands urgent attention.

In his words, ‘As a case in point, the FCT and Nasarawa State have 15 paediatric surgeons for a combined population of approximately 4.3 million, with half being children.

“This falls well below World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.”

Mshelbwala, assured of the unwavering commitment of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria to bridge this gap through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving, s collaboration to boost child healthcare in Abuja.

For a better society

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