From Abdullahi Shugaba, in Katsina
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has pledged the state government’s full support for the establishment of Outreach Neolife Babies Hospitals in Katsina to strengthen neonatal healthcare and reduce child mortality.
Malam Ibram Kaula. Mohammed, the Chief Press to the Katsina State Governor Malam Umar Dikko Radda made the disclosure to the Citizenship Daily Newspaper in Katsina on Friday
Mohammed said Governor Radda gave the assurance when he received the Chairman Board of the Outreach Neolife Babies Hospital, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, and her delegation at Government House in Katsina.
Radda described the proposed facility as a timely initiative that will improve access to urgent and specialised care for sick and premature babies across the state.
“This is a commendable initiative that will contribute significantly to reducing child mortality in Katsina State,” Governor Radda said.
The Governor recalled that his administration had invested over ₦3 billion to tackle child malnutrition after reports identified Katsina among states with a high prevalence of malnourished children.
He added that the government had established a State Committee on Nutrition, increased the number of Stabilisation Centres, and set up 60 new Outpatient Therapeutic Programme, OTP, centres. These, he said, have led to significant improvements in the fight against malnutrition.
“Our investments in nutrition and healthcare are aimed at ensuring that every child in Katsina has the opportunity to survive, grow and live a healthy life,” he said.
Governor Radda directed the Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, to work with the Outreach team and identify areas where the state government can support the establishment and effective operation of the proposed outreach hospital.
Earlier in her presentation on “Acute Neonatal Service Provision in Katsina State through Outreach Neolife Babies Hospital,” Dr. Dosekun commended the Radda administration for its investments in neonatal healthcare. These include expanding the institutional and equipment capacity of primary and district hospitals, as well as deploying different ambulance services ranging from tricycle, Keke, ambulances to advanced ambulances.
She explained that Outreach was proposing a new model of neonatal care designed to improve timely access to emergency treatment for sick and premature babies, while strengthening coordination across levels of healthcare.
According to her, the model will focus on increasing urgent neonatal bed capacity, establishing an organised clinical network, improving bed management, and strengthening referral systems across the state.
Dr. Dosekun said the existing ambulance system could become more effective through better coordination between healthcare facilities and referral centres.
She also stressed the need for early identification of sick and small babies at the community and primary healthcare levels.
She proposed statewide training for mothers, grandparents, frontline health workers, and Traditional Birth Attendants, TBAs, to recognise danger signs early and ensure babies receive care before their conditions become critical.
The proposal also includes promoting community health education through formal Mothercraft Centres.
Dr. Dosekun further proposed the establishment of urgent neonatal care centres in Katsina, Daura, and Funtua Senatorial Districts, with the majority of healthcare workers to be recruited from Katsina State.
She said the personnel would receive structured clinical and management training through Care One Digital Systems, a sister company of Neo Life.
According to her, the model is already operational in Kano, where a 100-bed modern urgent neonatal centre records between 400 and 500 patient admissions monthly, with high survival rates.
Dr. Dosekun noted that improving neonatal survival requires urgent action and urged Katsina to accelerate efforts to improve its health indices.
The proposed partnership is expected to complement ongoing investments by the Katsina State Government in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare, and further strengthen the state’s capacity to provide timely and specialised care for newborns.
The event was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, and other top government officials.
