The Bauchi State Government has launched 73 anti-shock garments and 20 advanced 4D ultrasound scanning machines to strengthen maternal healthcare and reduce infant and maternal mortality across the state's 20 general hospitals.
Speaking at a healthcare task force meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau explained that the equipment procured with support from a World Bank-backed project includes ₦750 million worth of 4D ultrasound scanners to improve prenatal diagnosis, alongside anti-shock garments to manage severe postpartum bleeding.
The state has also integrated over 1,600 skilled birth attendants into the civil service to boost staffing in rural areas.
Project Manager Dr. Adamu Muhammad noted that the new ultrasound machines will allow doctors to conduct detailed 360-degree diagnostic scans for pregnant women, with a target of providing free scans to roughly 300,000 women over the next three months.
Meanwhile, the reusable anti-shock garments will be placed in high-volume primary healthcare centers to stabilize patients during transit to larger facilities.