President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday commissioned the 150-bed University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) trauma center and directed the Head of Service of the Federation and the Budget Office to consider an increase in the personnel and overhead allocation to the hospital
The President issued the directive at the virtual inauguration of capital projects executed at UMTH, in response to a specific request by the Board and Management of the hospital.
President Buhari noted that the increase in personnel and allocation at UMTH would optimise services provided by the activation of the new projects.
Among landmark projects commissioned by the President are the 150-bed Trauma Centre, a new General Outpatient Department, a complex for National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a multipurpose Auditorium and Conference Centre constructed and furnished by Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State.
Others include a helipad facility and a new hostel for the UMTH School of Nursing, constructed by the Federal government, to provide modern multidisciplinary care facilities to injured persons from within and outside Maiduguri, in addition to reducing the need for referral to other centres.
The President noted that the value of the projects at the UMTH, which is a Centre of Excellence in Infectious diseases and Immunology in Nigeria, to the nation’s health care system cannot be underestimated, especially in the era of global health system challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read also: Healthcare availability and utilisation in Nigeria’s urban slums
He said the completion of the capital projects aptly reflects the Federal government’s commitment to sustainable development in the North East, and indeed in all parts of the country to engender economic growth, peace, and progress.
“Emerging diseases have made it necessary for all nations to increase and improve resource application for coping with the challenges of adapting to the ‘new normal’.
”This goes on in Borno State side by side with efforts to tackle insurgency and criminal activities,” he said.
The project is expected to boost affordable quality health care with broad coverage, especially with the completion of the General Outpatient Department and the NHIS complex.
He, therefore, urged the citizens to take advantage of the improved facility and imbibe the maintenance culture and ensure optimum utilization.
The project was carried out in collaboration with indigenous, international, non-governmental bilateral and multilateral donors and partners, like the Physical Rehabilitation Centre, which is a product of the engagement with the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC.
”This Centre is now fully operational in this era of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement in Borno State.
”At this centre, complete physical rehabilitation that includes physiotherapy and fitting of limb prosthesis can be undertaken locally, to end the need for outside referral.
”I express Nigeria’s deep appreciation to ICRC and other partners engaged in collaboration assistance,” he said.
”I assure you of my commitment to improved healthcare delivery services all over Nigeria.”
