UATH Seeks More Investment In Maternal, Newborn Healthcare

The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, has received medical equipment and renovated facilities for its Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and labour ward following an intervention by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The intervention is aimed at improving maternal and newborn healthcare, enhancing the quality of services available to mothers and babies, and supporting efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Gwagwalada yesterday, the Church Team Lead, Elder Christian Chigbundu, said the intervention was the church’s commitment to humanitarian service and its belief in caring for the poor and vulnerable, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

He said the renovation and equipment donation were intended to provide a better environment for newborn babies and mothers, particularly women receiving maternity care at the hospital.

“What we are doing today is obeying that commandment to love God and love your neighbour. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that Christianity means taking care of the poor and the needy,” Chigbundu said.

He said the church selected UATH because of the number of women who visit the hospital to give birth and its confidence in the institution’s management to maintain the renovated facilities and donated equipment.

“We did not choose here simply because it is a teaching hospital. We chose here because we have seen the number of women who come here to give birth,” he said.

The church leader also urged Nigerians, religious organisations and other well-meaning individuals to support vulnerable members of society, noting that humanitarian assistance did not have to be substantial to make a difference.

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Professor Thairu Yunusa, said the intervention was significant, while expressing appreciation to the church for providing what he called expensive and state-of-the-art equipment for the hospital’s neonatal and labour wards.

He said the upgraded facilities would strengthen healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes and support efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Yunusa noted that the intervention aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to improve population health outcomes, adding that the availability of appropriate medical equipment was critical to achieving better results in maternal and newborn care.

“With this equipment, the population health outcomes will definitely improve, turnaround time for healthcare will be reduced, and the reduction in maternal and infant mortality can be achieved,” he said.

The medical director described the donation as a boost to the hospital’s capacity to provide quality services to women and children, adding that the intervention had also lifted the morale of healthcare personnel.

He called on other individuals, organisations and philanthropists to complement government efforts by supporting hospitals with medical equipment, diagnostic tools, beds and infrastructure.

“You cannot leave everything for government alone. We call on all other well-meaning Nigerians to join the church and other people who are coming in to donate equipment, diagnostic tools and support infrastructure,” Tahiru said.

He assured the donors that the hospital management would ensure the proper maintenance and utilisation of the donated equipment and renovated facilities.