Group offers to monitor FG's N10bn health investment

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar 

Following the Federal Government’s launch of a N10 billion healthcare intervention in Bauchi State, the Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (BASAM) has pledged to closely monitor the implementation of the massive investment.

​The Federal Government recently rolled out the intervention to improve maternal and newborn healthcare across the state. The package includes the distribution of emergency obstetric and neonatal equipment, medical commodities, ambulances, and delivery kits to various healthcare facilities.

​Reacting to the development, BASAM’s CSO Co-chair, Abu John Yusuf, stated that BASAM is uniquely positioned to provide non-state oversight for the project, ensuring transparency and accountability.

​Yusuf explained that the CSO is structurally designed as an evidence-based advocacy platform to support the government in improving healthcare outcomes for mothers, newborns, and children.

​"A N10 billion investment should make a noticeable mark on health outcomes in Bauchi State if effectively utilized," Yusuf said, adding that BASAM will realign its work plan to accommodate and track the emerging federal intervention.

It could be recalled that ​during the recent unveiling of the initiative, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that 20 primary healthcare centres across 15 local government areas would receive critical labor and delivery equipment. 

This includes suction machines, oxygen concentrators, blood pressure monitors, and newborn care equipment.

​The Minister added that the intervention also features: The distribution of 17,000 maternity kits to pregnant women. Essential medicines and medical commodities. ​15 tricycle ambulances tailored for hard-to-reach rural communities. Six conventional ambulances to strengthen emergency referral services.

​According to Professor Pate, the intervention aims to drastically reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by strengthening emergency healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.

Our Correspondent reports that, ​BASAM is a prominent, evidence-based advocacy coalition with a diverse membership drawn from government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations, and the media.