Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, has assured that the federal government will prioritise the reconstruction and replacement of facilities at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital ( UMTH ), which was severely damaged by the recent flood disaster that ravaged Maiduguri and environs.
Prof Pate gave the assurance yesterday at the UMTH in Maiduguri after an assessment tour of the facilities damaged by the flood at the hospital with federal government delegation that visited Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum and the management of the hospital on sympathy visit.
This is even as Governor Zulum pledged a donation of N500 million towards the reconstruction and replacement of facilities destroyed by the flood.
The minister emphasized the urgent need for the reconstruction of the damaged centres and equipment to enhance healthcare delivery and support the well-being of residents.
” These initiatives aim to revitalise healthcare services and ensure that residents receive the necessary support during this critical recovery phase,” the Minister said.
He appreciated Borno State government for donating the sum of N500 million for the restoration of damaged facilities in the hospital and further said, ” On behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, we express our sincere appreciation for this collaborative gesture of N500 million donation.”
Earlier, Governor Zulum thanked the minister and his entourage for coming to sympathise with the people and government of Borno State over the flood disaster. He added that the state government is willing to contribute its widows’ mite for the facilities damaged by the flood.
” So on this note, I want to announce the donation of N500 million for the restoration of the damaged facilities. We are affected, the hospital belongs to the federal government, but there is no distinction between the state and the federal government because 90 percent of the beneficiaries of the hospital are residents of the state.
” We are donating this sum of N500 million so that you can complement your efforts of rebuilding the hospital. In addition, we will partner with the federal government to rebuild the hospital, ” the governor said.
Also speaking, the chief medical director, CMD of the hospital, Prof Adhijo, while conducting the minister round the damaged facilities, said the hospital, which has 12 specialised centres and 1,305 beds space and the best cancer centre, was ravaged by the flood, leaving much equipment worth billions of naira damaged.
