The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Integrated Health Program (IHP) project has donated N1.2 billion to the Bauchi State Government for various interventions in the health sector in 2022.

The USAID IHP intervention is to look into basic healthcare services to the rural areas and hard-reached communities across the state.

USAID also donated medical equipment and job aids for primary healthcare extension services in Bauchi State.

Presenting the items to the state government at the USAID IHP office in Bauchi, the State Director, Dr Alhassan Siaka, said the donation was to take basic healthcare services to people in rural areas and other communities.

The items, he noted, would be distributed to all 20 local government areas of the state, saying: “This is not the first time USAID IHP has supported Bauchi State Government, we are doing it to bring health care services closer to the people, especially through our outreaches.”

Some of the items for outreach include thermometer, sphygmomanometer, stethoscopes, weighing scales, and hospital screen for partition.

“We are also giving out mama kits that contain, sanitary pad, soap, hand gloves, and chlorohexidine to encourage hospital delivery as most poor and vulnerable pregnant women to find it difficult to buy essential items needed for delivery. The items are worth the sum of N42,831,200,” Siaka added.

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He stated that the job aids were for the management of malaria, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, essential care for labour, and bleeding after birth, among others.

“This job aid will assist the health worker and the communities get basic information as it is both in English and Hausa,” he said.

While receiving the items on behalf of the Bauchi State Government, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, said the items would bridge the stock gap for outreach in the 323 one main PHC per ward.

“IHP has provided many interventions in service delivery and with these mama kits more pregnant women will deliver in our health facilities,” he said.

Mohammed noted that the challenge of providing basic delivery items has pushed many pregnant women to deliver at home coupled with inadequate human resources at health facilities.

“The present administration has given approval for the engagement of 225 pre-service medical students who have signed a bound to come back and work in the state, this is to bridge the gap in human resources for health,” the BASPHCDA boss added.

Mohammed, however, lamented that the state performance on routine immunisation has dropped, noting that it was worrisome.

The chairman further said the state government alone cannot meet all the medical needs of the people, saying it was very appreciative of USAID IHP’s continued support to the state.

He added that the Agency will closely monitor the usage of the items to avert diversion by the officials.

Nasir Shuaibu Kobi

The Star