The federal government has flagged off the distribution of emergency obstetric and newborn healthcare equipment, commodities and delivery kits worth N10bn to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in Bauchi state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the intervention formed part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery nationwide.
Pate stated over the weekend that the intervention was aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality through the provision of medical equipment, ambulances, maternity kits and essential drugs to healthcare facilities across the state.
He added that the federal government had invested about N10bn in Bauchi through the programme, saying that the state will continue to benefit from several health sector interventions under the current administration.
He listed some of the interventions to include the establishment and upgrade of federal health institutions, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, training of frontline health workers and provision of critical healthcare infrastructure.
He said 20 primary healthcare centres across 15 local government areas will receive labour and delivery equipment, including suction machines, oxygen concentrators, blood pressure monitors and newborn care equipment.
He added that the intervention also includes 17,000 maternity kits for pregnant women, essential drugs and medical commodities, 15 tricycle ambulances for rural communities and six conventional ambulances to improve emergency referrals.