By Murtala Muhammad
Over thirty thousand women across the twenty local areas of Bauchi state are to benefit from free ultrasound scanning services courtesy of the recently distributed 4D Ultrasound Scanning Machines to twenty general hospitals.
The free scanning services would be rendered for the next three months across the twenty general hospitals in the state.
The twenty 4D Ultrasound Scanning machines, worth five hundred and ninety five million naira, were procured under the World Bank assisted Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Service (IMPACT) project.
Radio Nigeria reports that the machines were launched by the State’s Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau at the Bauchi Government House for distribution to the twenty General Hospitals across the state.
At the event, the State’s Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau said twenty General Hospital across the local government areas of the state would each receive one 4D Ultrasound Scanning Machine.
Auwal Jatau said the distribution aimed to address medical equipment challenges, particularly in the grassroots for easy diagnosis and treatment of maternal and child health problems.
The 4D Ultrasound Scanning machines can perform multiple emergency surgical scans such as Abdominal ultrasound, Transvirginal ultrasound, Obstetric ultrasound, Ecocardiophy, Transabdominal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound among others.
The IMPACT project, also procured seventy three Anti-shock Garments worth twenty five million naira for distribution to high volumes Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
The Anti-shock Garments are used mainly to manage postpartum haemorrhage commonly known as severe obstetric bleeding, particularly where blood transfusion or surgery may be delayed due to nonavailability of such services in that PHC.
The Bauchi State’s Programme Manager, IMPACT project Dr Adamu Muhammad said the Anti-shock Garments are reusable commodities for they can be washed and rewashed for further use in the PHC.
He expressed optimism that the commodities would help in reducing maternal mortality and child morbidity in the identified high volume PHCs across the state.