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Renovation/Equipping of Borno State Ministry of Health  Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

Transforming Neonatal Care in Borno and Yobe States

28 Mar 2025 Nigeria

As part of efforts to support the Federal Ministry of Health’s Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) and the National Child Survival Action Plan (NCSAP), Save the Children Nigeria with support from Church of Latter Day Saints supported the Borno and Yobe States Ministry of Health in renovating and equipping the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

With support from Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Charity (LDSC) MAMI Project, the unit received major renovation, installation of modern Oxygen piping system, 30KVA Solar powered system, stable water source and reticulation system, modern lifesaving neonatal equipment including mobile incubators, ventilator, transcutaneous serum bilirubinometer, CPAP, Hemocue, multiparameter monitors, electric suction machine, LED phototherapy machine, radiant warmer and more—ensuring newborns receive quality care.

On a similar note,  Save the Children's (SC) evidence-based advocacy has driven the establishment of a state-of-the-art Special Baby Care Unit (SBCU) at the Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu—an initiative that is set to reduce neonatal mortality in the state.

Recognizing gaps in healthcare infrastructure and the limited availability of life-saving neonatal equipment, Save the Children launched a strategic advocacy campaign in 2024, engaging key government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the Yobe State Hospital Management Board. Through data-driven policy engagement, Save the Children successfully influenced the state government to prioritize neonatal healthcare, leading to the approval and funding of a modern SBCU.

Completed in February 2025, the facility is equipped with cutting-edge neonatal technology and staffed by trained healthcare professionals. To ensure sustainability and quality service delivery, Save the Children—through the MAMI Project with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Charity (LDSC)—donated advanced neonatal equipment, including neonatal ventilators, CPAP machines, incubators, phototherapy lamps, and vital monitoring tools among others. Additionally, 48 doctors and nurses received specialized training in essential and comprehensive newborn care, alongside biomedical engineers trained in equipment operation and maintenance.

By transforming neonatal care in Yobe, this milestone serves as a model for evidence-based advocacy and strategic partnerships, demonstrating how collaboration between governments, donors, and humanitarian organizations can save lives and strengthen health systems across Nigeria.

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