The Niger government has inaugurated N100 million worth of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) equipment at selected general hospitals across the state to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

The health commissioner, Murtala Muhammad-Bagana, disclosed this during the inauguration of the equipment at the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital, Bida, on Tuesday.

Mr Muhammad-Bagana said the central focus of the intervention was to prevent maternal and newborn deaths by ensuring rapid and effective management of obstetric haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, obstructed labour, sepsis, and emergency Caesarean Sections.

He said the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, selected for the pilot upgrade, serve a combined catchment population of nearly two million people, including about 400,000 women of reproductive age.

“For us in Niger, no mother should lose her life while bringing forth new life. To make this standard of care a reality, these vital upgrades have been targeted at two strategic anchor facilities: the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital, Bida, and the Federal Medical Centre, Bida.

“These facilities do not operate in isolation; they serve as a critical clinical safety net for an expansive catchment area. Together, they anchor the health security of communities across Bida, Agaie, Katcha, Gbako, Edati, Lavun, among others, as part of a major expansion of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services across the state,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the medical equipment, commodities, and consumables were procured through a strategic partnership between the Niger government and the federal government.

He said the investment represented a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

He added that the upgrades aligned with Governor Umaru Bago’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery across the state. He noted that strengthening the facilities’ capacity would help reduce referral delays and ensure timely, quality care when every minute counts.

Inaugurating the equipment, the Etsu Nupe and chairman of the Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, commended the government for the investment.

Mr Abubakar said the new equipment would improve healthcare outcomes for residents of Bida and neighbouring communities.

CEmONC refers to a package of lifesaving emergency services provided to women and newborns during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the immediate postnatal period.

It includes emergency Caesarean Sections, blood transfusions, management of severe bleeding, eclampsia, obstructed labour, and sepsis, as well as newborn resuscitation and other essential emergency care.

(NAN)