AKTH receives medical equipment worth US$720 million to reduce maternal mortality in Kano

Determined to reduce high rate of maternal mortality and newborn death in Kano, a multinational beverage company, Coca-Cola, has donated medical facility worth US$720 million to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Besides, the international bottling brand presented certificates to 46 biomedical engineers trained to man and maintain the multi-billion naira equipments installed at the paediatric units of the teaching hospital.

Densely crowded with over 12 million population, Kano has the highest cases of maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria. Available record indicated maternal deaths ratio of 576 in 100,000 cases while child mortality rate was put at 103 in every 1,000 live birth.

Speaking at the unveiling of the facility yesterday, Director, Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola, Mrs Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, explained that the gesture is part of The Safe Birth Initiative geared towards reducing needless mortality during birth.

Onyemelukwe disclosed that the Coca-Cola initiative is being anchored to promote procurement of appropriate equipment and maintenance culture in 10 tertiary institutions across the country.

She noted that the initiative which was conceived three years ago, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Medshare International Inc. and Engineering World Health, will provide access to maternal care to women at affordable cost.

Onyemelukwe said with AKTH added to the stream of benefiting health institutions, the global brand has facilitated full and basic maternal care to mothers and saved 21,000 babies from birth complications.

“Our aimed is to save lives and support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals targets on maternal and newborn deaths reduction. Realising the high rate of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria and obsolete equipments at our hospitals, we found it necessary to unveil the initiative.

“We also want to ensure sustainability, especially in the maintenance culture, we have employed and trained over 20,000 biomedical engineers to monitor and ensure operational services of the equipment. We have agreement with the management of the hospital to make medical treatments, especially on maternal health affordable. We also want the community to own the project for sustainability,” Onyemelukwe noted.

On his part, AKTH Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdulrahman Sheshe, applauded the safe birth initiative of Coca-Cola which he assured would enhance maternal and child health care at the Federal Government-owned facility.

Represented by CMAC, Professor Auwalu Umar Gajida, the CMD pledged the hospital’s commitment to continue rendering quality service at minimum charges.