By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
USAID-IHP has donated medical delivery kits and job aids for primary health care extension services in Bauchi state.
The state Director of USAID-IHP, Dr Alhassan Siaka presented the items to the state government on Tuesday, saying that the donation is meant to take basic health care services to the people at the rural and hard to reach communities.
The items are to be distributed to the 20 local government areas of the state.
“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 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 chlorohexcide to encourage hospital delivery as most poor and vulnerable pregnant women find it difficult to buy essential items needed for delivery,” he said.
Dr Siaka said the job aids are for the management of malaria, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, essential care for Labor and bleeding after birth among others.
“This job aids will assist the health worker and the communities to get basic information as it is both in the English and Hausa languages.”
USAID-IHP has supported the state with N1.2 billion for 2022.
Receiving the items, executive chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said the items will bridge the stock gap for outreaches in the 323 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 to providing basic delivery items has pushed many pregnant women to deliver at home, added to the inadequate human resources for health at health facilities.
“The present administration has given approval for the engagement of 225 pre service medical students who have signed a bond to come back and work in the state; this is to bridge the gap in human resources for health.”
He lamented that the state performance on routine immunization has dropped, noting that it is worrisome.
The executive chairman said government alone cannot meet all the medical needs of the people and is appreciative of USAID-IHP continued support to the state.
He added that the agency will closely monitor the usage of the items to avert diversion.
