AKTH gets N300m equipment to reduce neo-natal, maternal mortality

 The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano State has taken delivery of medical equipment worth over N300 million to reduce prevailing cases of neo-natal and maternal mortality in the state and neighbouring states.

The equipment, which were donated through the Safe Birth Initiative (SBI) of the Coca-Cola Nigeria and MedShare International, are expected to help change the narrative of neo-natal and maternal mortality in Kano, a state with high mortality rate.

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The initiative also trained 46 biomedical engineers to man and maintain the multi-million naira equipment installed at the pediatric unit of the teaching hospital.

Speaking at the unveiling of the equipment, Alfred Olajide, the managing director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, explained that the SBI is a health-centric strategy with which the Coca-Cola System seeks to reduce the high rate of deaths occurring during childbirth in Nigeria, both for mothers and newborns.

Noting that AKTH is the seventh beneficiary tertiary hospital, Olajide added that through the initiative, over 21,000 newborn babies and mothers had been safely preserved, while another 56,000 families had benefitted, one way or another across the country.

Responding on behalf of the hospital, its Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdulrahman Sheshe, who was represented by the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Professor Auwalu Gajida, expressed delight over the donation, saying more mothers and newborns have been afforded better chance of safe deliveries.