Bauchi Invests Billions In Health As Governor Unveils Fresh Maternal Care Reforms
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, says his administration has intensified investments in healthcare with billions of naira committed to infrastructure, workforce development and maternal health interventions.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed,has said his administration has intensified investments in healthcare with billions of naira committed to infrastructure, workforce development and maternal health interventions. Speaking on Saturday during the flag-off of the distribution of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) equipment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, the governor said the state is implementing one of its most ambitious healthcare reform programmes. According to him, 138 Primary Health Centres have been upgraded to Level II facilities, while two new general hospitals have been completed and the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital is undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation. Governor Mohammed was represented by his deputy Rt Auwal Jatau, said the government has also equipped 20 general hospitals with 4-D ultrasound machines and solar-powered 21 facilities to improve access to quality healthcare. On maternal health, the governor disclosed that more than 72,000 antenatal care kits and 64,000 Mama Kits had been distributed free to pregnant women, while the latest Federal Government intervention would further improve emergency obstetric services through the provision of specialised equipment, ambulances and reproductive health commodities. To strengthen the health workforce, he said over 1,500 healthcare workers have been recruited and salary packages enhanced, while about 5,000 students are currently benefiting from the state’s pre-service health training scheme. Mohammed noted that Bauchi remains committed to dedicating at least 15 per cent of its annual budget to healthcare, in line with the Abuja Declaration. He said the government had released N872 million in counterpart funding for primary healthcare programmes, N300 million to UNICEF for child nutrition, N500 million for the Drug Revolving Fund and N50 million to UNFPA for family planning commodities. The governor appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for supporting the state’s health sector, pledging that the equipment would be properly utilised to improve maternal and newborn survival. Please follow and like us: