Renovation Boosts Maternity Care at Bakiyawa Health Centre

The Bakiyawa Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) in Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, has been renovated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with funding from the Global Fund. Suwaiba Abubakar, a 45-year-old mother who has given birth to all her nine children at the facility, shared her past experiences of poor maternity care, including a lack of dedicated labour rooms and the need to refer women for blood transfusions to nearby hospitals.

She expressed excitement over the renovations, stating that they will improve the hospital's services and encourage more women to utilize the facility. Abubakar urged the Katsina State Government to provide adequate medical equipment, additional health workers, and essential drugs to ensure comprehensive healthcare delivery.

Another community member, Fatima Yusuf, highlighted that the previous conditions deterred women from seeking care, often forcing them to rely on traditional birth attendants. The community is hopeful for continued improvements in maternal healthcare.