The Bauchi State Specialist Hospital has expanded its capacity to provide healthcare services to National Health Insurance Scheme beneficiaries with the commissioning of a new NHIS complex equipped with facilities for general medical care, maternal health and newborn services.
The facility, commissioned on Saturday by the First Lady of Bauchi State, Aishatu Bala Mohammed, comprises a labour room, Special Care Baby Unit, pharmacy, laboratory, medical records section and other support services.
Its completion comes as the hospital manages a growing NHIS population, with the Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdulkareem Mairiga, revealing that more than 16,000 NHIS clients currently receive care at the hospital.
According to Mairiga, the rising number of patients made additional space necessary. The hospital management initially remodelled four existing structures to accommodate key NHIS services, including pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, consulting rooms and laundry services.
“We felt there was a need to add more places where our patients could be seen. That was why we decided to remodel four houses and create areas for our pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, consulting rooms and laundry services,” he said.
The management later constructed a separate facility to strengthen maternal and child healthcare. The new structure features a labour room with about five beds and a Special Care Baby Unit for newborns requiring specialised attention.
The expanded infrastructure is expected to ease pressure on existing services while providing dedicated spaces for essential healthcare needs, particularly those involving mothers and newborns.
Speaking at the commissioning, Aishatu described the facility as an important addition to Bauchi State’s healthcare infrastructure and welcomed its focus on women and children.
“I am particularly pleased that the facility has been designed to significantly cater to the healthcare needs of women and children.
“This is extremely important because the health of women and children is directly connected to the well-being and future of our communities. When our mothers are healthy, our families are stronger, and when our children have access to quality healthcare, we build a healthier and more prosperous future,” she said.
She stressed the importance of safe and dignified maternal healthcare and adequate care and protection for children, while commending the hospital’s management and staff, particularly Mairiga, for their leadership and commitment to completing the project.
“Your efforts remind us that when vision, leadership and dedication come together, meaningful development becomes possible,” she said.
Aishatu also urged the hospital management, healthcare professionals, relevant government agencies, development partners and residents to ensure that the facility remains properly maintained and accessible to those who need it.
“Let us protect the infrastructure, use the equipment responsibly, maintain a clean environment and ensure that every patient who comes here is treated with professionalism, compassion and dignity. Good governance can provide the infrastructure, but all of us have a role to play in ensuring that this investment continues to serve generations to come,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the complex would become a centre of healing and hope and contribute to efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in Bauchi State.
With more than 16,000 NHIS clients already accessing care at the Specialist Hospital, the new complex provides additional infrastructure to support the institution’s growing workload and strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
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