Bauchi First Lady Aishatu Mohammed Commissions NHIS Complex for Women, Children

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The First Lady of Bauchi State, Aishatu Bala Mohammed, has commissioned a newly constructed National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) complex at the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital to expand access to healthcare, particularly for women and children.

The facility, commissioned on Saturday, September 5, includes a labour room, Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), pharmacy, laboratory, medical records section and other support services.

Speaking at the commissioning, Aishatu Bala said she was particularly pleased that the facility was designed to address the healthcare needs of women and children.

She said access to quality healthcare for women and children was essential to the wellbeing of families and communities, stressing the need for women to receive safe and dignified maternal healthcare and for children to have access to adequate care.

“When our mothers are healthy, our families are stronger, and when our children have access to quality healthcare, we build a healthier and more prosperous future,” she said.

The First Lady commended the management and staff of the Specialist Hospital, particularly its Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdulkareem Mairiga, for their leadership and efforts towards completing the project.

She also called on the hospital management, healthcare workers, government agencies, development partners and residents to ensure the facility is properly maintained and remains accessible to those who need it.

According to her, providing the infrastructure is only the beginning, as its impact would depend on how well it is used, protected and sustained. “Let us protect the infrastructure, use the equipment responsibly, maintain a clean environment and ensure that every patient who comes here is treated with professionalism, compassion and dignity,” she said.

Earlier, Mairiga explained that the expansion became necessary because of the growing number of NHIS beneficiaries receiving care at the hospital. He disclosed that more than 16,000 NHIS clients currently use the hospital, creating pressure on existing facilities.

Mairiga said the hospital management initially remodelled four existing structures to create additional spaces for NHIS services, including pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, consulting rooms and laundry services. He added that a separate structure was later constructed to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services.

The new structure includes a labour room with about five beds and a Special Care Baby Unit for newborns requiring specialised medical attention. The commissioning is expected to increase the hospital’s capacity to provide healthcare services to NHIS beneficiaries while creating dedicated spaces for maternal and newborn care

Aishatu Bala expressed optimism that the facility would become a centre of healing and contribute to efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in Bauchi State.