The recent renovation of the Bakiyawa Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) in Batagarawa Local Government Area of Katsina State has brought relief to women in the community. The centre, which was renovated by UNICEF with funding from the Global Fund, had been providing poor facilities and limited healthcare services for years. Suwaiba Abubakar, a 45-year-old mother of nine, who has been associated with the facility for all her children's births and vaccinations, welcomes the changes.
According to Suwaiba Abubakar, the old facility was a source of discomfort and anxiety for women seeking care. Women in labour often had to give birth in the same ward as other patients due to the lack of a dedicated labour room. This situation was particularly uncomfortable for women requiring privacy and specialised attention during labour. The experience was also a challenge for women needing blood during or after childbirth, as they had to be referred to neighbouring hospitals.
The referral process for women needing blood was a serious challenge, especially in emergencies where time was of the essence. Suwaiba Abubakar recalled that women requiring blood transfusions were often taken to hospitals in Babban Ruga, which could lead to delays and complications. The renovated health centre is expected to address these issues and provide comprehensive healthcare services to women and children in the community.
Suwaiba Abubakar expressed her gratitude to UNICEF for renovating the health centre and commended the organisation for its efforts to improve healthcare in the community. However, she appealed to the Katsina State Government to provide the health centre with adequate medical equipment, additional health workers, essential drugs, and other consumables needed to sustain effective service delivery.
Another woman from the community, Fatima Yusuf, shared her experience of the old facility, saying that its condition made many women afraid to seek care there. As a result, some women had to depend on traditional birth attendants due to the health centre's poor state. The renovated facility is expected to encourage more women to seek healthcare services at the centre, rather than relying on traditional birth attendants.
The renovation of the Bakiyawa MCHC is seen as a significant improvement in healthcare services for women and children in the community. The centre is now expected to provide a safe and comfortable environment for women to give birth and receive medical care. The project is also a testament to the collaboration between UNICEF and the Global Fund to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.
The Katsina State Government has been urged to support the health centre with necessary resources to ensure its effective operation. With the renovation of the Bakiyawa MCHC, women in the community can now look forward to receiving quality healthcare services, reducing the risks associated with childbirth and improving health outcomes for mothers and children.
Key points
- The renovated Bakiyawa MCHC is expected to improve healthcare services for women and children in Katsina State.
- The facility had been providing poor facilities and limited healthcare services for years, leading to discomfort and anxiety for women seeking care.
- The Katsina State Government has been urged to provide the health centre with necessary resources to ensure its effective operation.
