Health workers in Bauchi State have urged governments at all levels to increase funding and provide adequate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) facilities to protect newborns and children from preventable infections.
The call came at the conclusion of a three-day capacity-building training on IPC, which ended on Thursday in Bauchi. The training was organized by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Programme of the College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).
Participants included health workers from the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and the Emergency Paediatric Unit/Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), as well as staff from the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi.
Speaking at the closing session, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar, a lecturer at the College of Medical Sciences, ATBU, expressed concern over the high burden of infections, particularly among children under five. He noted that hospital-acquired infections remain a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in paediatric and neonatal care settings.
“Many of these infections are preventable through strict adherence to IPC protocols, the availability of essential equipment, and continuous training for frontline health workers,” Abubakar said. He called on governments to demonstrate stronger political will by investing in IPC infrastructure and supplies across health facilities.
Dr. Fadimatu Bindow of ATBUTH highlighted the serious impact of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in neonatal and paediatric units. She said the training enhanced participants’ understanding of infection transmission and equipped them with practical strategies to prevent infections in daily clinical practice. She urged government authorities to support health workers with functional facilities and tools to strengthen IPC compliance.
Also speaking, Dr. Malik Isa, a resident doctor at ATBUTH, called for improved funding and the provision of modern equipment. “Protecting newborns and children requires sustained commitment to infection prevention at all levels of healthcare delivery,” he said. He expressed optimism that with adequate support, strengthened IPC practices would significantly reduce preventable deaths among vulnerable children in the state.
