The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday distributed free mother-baby kits and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to women across the territory as part of efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal risks, improve household health, and advance Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
The gesture marked the launch of two major initiatives: the FCT Mother-Baby Kit Project tagged “Renewing Hope: One Baby at a Time” and the Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project tagged “Renewing Hope: One Home at a Time.”
Nigeria still records high maternal and infant mortality rates, largely due to poor access to clean and essential delivery supplies.
The Renewed Hope Mother-Baby Kit initiative seeks to bridge this gap by providing basic but lifesaving materials such as maternity gowns, baby suits, sanitary pads, solar lanterns, baby shawls, towels, plates, spoons, diapers, and sponges.
According to the World Health Organization, about 2.1 billion people worldwide still rely on polluting fuels like firewood and charcoal for cooking—exposure that contributes to 3.2 million deaths annually, many among children under five.
The Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project is designed to tackle this problem by promoting LPG use in households, helping families—especially women—move away from smoky, harmful fuels.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, stressed that no woman should face childbirth without adequate tools or support.
“These kits reflect our deep commitment to maternal and child health and to ensuring that every mother and baby are given the best start possible,” she said.
On the clean energy initiative, Mahmoud added:“By replacing firewood, charcoal, and kerosene with smart LPG cookers, we are tackling one of the silent killers in our homes—respiratory diseases caused by smoke inhalation. This programme also reduces emissions, curbs deforestation, and strengthens Nigeria’s climate commitments.”
She explained that the projects are part of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which has already delivered notable health interventions in the FCT, including new oxygen plants, a Vesico-Vaginal Fistula Centre, expanded health insurance coverage, and improved health facilities.
Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the free distribution specifically targets vulnerable women in rural and peri-urban communities, removing a major barrier to safe motherhood.
She emphasized that the project aligns with both Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3—ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
The Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Baba-Gana Adam, noted that the day’s programme was a three-in-one intervention—distribution of mother-baby kits, free LPG cylinders, and enrollment of pregnant women into the FCT health insurance scheme.
He revealed that over 250 baby kits and 500 LPG cylinders were distributed at the launch, with more to come across all six area councils.
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Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support.One of them, Sadiya Aliyu, said:“I never believed I could get this without paying. The kit will help me deliver safely, and the gas cylinder means I don’t have to use charcoal anymore. Cooking will now be faster, cleaner, and safer for my family.”
