Buni inaugurates newborn critical care centre in Gashua
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Newborn Critical Care unit at the Specialist Hospital, Gashua, to enhance childrens healthcare services in the state.
Buni said the project was inaugurated as part of activities to commomarate the “World Prematurity Day” in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Prematurity Day is observed on Nov. 17, each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide.
Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm each year, accounting for about one in 10 of all babies born worldwide
The governor said that his administration accorded premium to quality healthcare service delivery to improve the health status of the people.
“The commissioning of the centre will no doubt add value in the drive towards improving healthcare services to children, control child mortality and morbidity in Gashua and Zone C in general.
“Newborns are special creatures that needed high level of care and treatment due to their peculiarities such as prematurity and low birthrate.
“The newborn critical care unit is equipped with modern, advanced equipments and trained personnel to manage it,” he said.
Buni tasked the personnel and the people to protect the centre and other facilities provided by the government in their communities.
In his remarks, Dr Lawan Gana, Commissioner for Health, said that asphyxia, neonatal infections, jaundice and anaemia had been identified as the major caused of neonatal mortality in the country.
He said the complications were caused during ante, intra or post-partum.
“It is in the light of this that Gov. Buni graciously approved the establishment of the referral for Special Baby Care Units in each zone of the state.
“As piloting locations, Specialist Hospitals, Gashua and Potiskum centers were commenced, while the one in the Yobe State Teaching Hospital, Damaturu is under construction,” he said.
According to him, the centres are equipped with state-of-the-art SCBU equipment and diagnostic facilities such as transport incubators, oxygen, phototherapy machines among others.
(NAN)
