Mariya Bunkure backs Northwest University’s push for maternal, child health centre

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, has expressed willingness to support the development initiatives of Northwest University, Kano, including the proposed establishment of a Kano Renewed Hope National Centre of Excellence for Women’s, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (KARMRAD).

Mahmoud made the commitment when the Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero, led a delegation from the university on a courtesy visit to her in Abuja, where the institution presented its proposal for the establishment of the specialised centre.

The minister assured the university of her commitment to facilitating appropriate assistance and collaboration within the scope of her office to support its development initiatives.

She also expressed willingness to work with the university in areas that could contribute to the advancement of education, research and healthcare development.

Earlier, Prof. Bayero sought the support and collaboration of the Federal Government towards the establishment of the proposed KARMRAD Centre at Northwest University, Kano.

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The Vice-Chancellor said the proposed centre was conceived as a world-class regional hub for women’s, maternal, newborn and child health, combining medical education, biomedical and translational research, healthcare innovation, digital health, clinical simulation, professional capacity development, policy support and community engagement.

The university also identified the need to strengthen the application of digital health and translational research in healthcare delivery, particularly in view of Kano’s strategic position as a major healthcare and referral hub in the North-West.

The proposed centre will comprise an Institute of Women’s, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Medical Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre; Biomedical Research and Innovation Complex; Digital Medical Education Centre; Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub; Telemedicine and Community Outreach Centre; Nutrition and Child Development Centre; Central Instrumentation Facility; and Digital Library and Knowledge Resource Centre.

Bayero said the centre would serve as a platform for strengthening healthcare education and research, developing innovative healthcare technologies, supporting evidence-based health policies and extending quality healthcare services to underserved communities through outreach, telemedicine and digital health.

The project is projected to train more than 5,000 healthcare professionals, support over 3,000 students annually, conduct more than 100 community outreach programmes, establish over 30 research collaborations and secure at least 10 competitive research grants.

The university said the proposed investment would cover civil works and infrastructure, biomedical laboratories and scientific equipment, medical simulation and clinical skills facilities, digital medical education and ICT infrastructure, health innovation and telemedicine, utilities, capacity building and project management.

During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor also sought the minister’s support for other areas of institutional development and assistance in facilitating appropriate Federal Government interventions to advance the university.

Bayero expressed appreciation to Mahmud for receiving the university’s delegation and for her willingness to support initiatives aimed at strengthening education, research and healthcare development.

The university said the proposed centre would help position Northwest University, Kano, as a regional centre of excellence in medical education, biomedical research and health innovation, while contributing to improved maternal, newborn and child health outcomes across Kano State, Northern Nigeria and the country.