By Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse
Save the Children and GlaxoSmithKline has donated hospital equipment worth N20 million to the Rasheed Shekoni Specialist hospital in Dutse Jigawa state.
Speaking while handing over the medical equipment on Thursday at the hospital, the chief of party inspiring project, Dr. Adamu Isah said the donation will improve access to oxygen supply and is expected to reduce the number of children dying from pneumonia and other related illnesses.
Dr. Isah explained that the ultimate aim is to accelerate the global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea through the Sustainable Development Goal that targets the reduction of infant mortality from pneumonia.
According to him, a recent study revealed that out of 12 Nigerian hospitals only 5 had oxygen facilities available in the pediatric sections while only one hospital uses a pulse oximetry that checks the requirements of the oxygen to the body.
He said Save the Children International was today donating a piped Oxygen system, Oxygen Concentrators, cylinders and Pulse Oximeters worth N20 million to support efforts geared at ensuring hospitals and appropriate health facilities in Jigawa State are equipped with functional oxygen delivery systems”.
He said, “Importantly, we consider equipping the hospital with oxygen containers as one of a critical step in addressing Hypoxemia (a clinical condition of inadequate oxygen concentration in the blood), a common sign of Pneumonia, which is the leading infectious killer of children under-5′, he stated.
“The donation will enhance the hospital’s capacity in providing life saving oxygen therapy, thus strengthening the Jigawa State’s oxygen delivery system.
“As Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital is getting ready to become a Teaching Hospital, we believe this donation will empower the hospital to perform its role as a top notch referral, teaching and research hospital in the State”.
While receiving the donation, the Secretary to the Jigawa state government, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adamu Fanini expressed gratitude to the two organizations GSK and Save the Children for the gesture and called on the hospital to make good use of the materials.
