Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has announced a N1 billion financial support for the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) to facilitate kidney transplants for underprivileged patients from the state.
Governor Zulum authorised an initial deposit of N250 million to cover transplants for 50 indigent patients.
The governor made the announcement during the 110th General Meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, alongside the commissioning of epoch-making projects at UMTH.
He confirmed that the remaining N750 million would be disbursed in three instalments.
Similarly, the chief medical director (CMD), UMTH, Prof Ahmed Ahidjo during the meeting announced that Sir Emeka Offor, in addition to his previous support to the hospital, has donated N1.7 billion for projects, repair of equipment and procurement of equipment in the health institution.
The CMD recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the philanthropist also donated 40 feet containers of medical equipment to Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country. He listed some of the projects to commission to include Bola Ahmed Tinubu ICT Centre being the first medical ICT institute in the country, a centre for heart surgery named after the late Prof Jubril Aminu, 150-bed capacity stroke and neuroscience centre named after the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, among others.
He appreciated Sir Emeka Offor for his presence in the meeting for the commissioning of the projects.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, lauded Governor Zulum for fostering collaboration between state and federal governments to deliver equitable and affordable healthcare.
He also commended Sir Emeka Offor for the continuous support to federal health institutions across the country.
The CMD-UMTH, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, acknowledged that the state’s N500 million intervention following the 2024 floods, had helped to restore critical services, including the renovation of Trauma and Kidney Centres, procurement of medical consumables and the reactivation of oxygen plant.
