The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH ) has embarked on medical outreach to Borno communities as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the hospital.
The free medical outreach offered screening and treatment of medical ailments as well as surgical operations for hernia, hydrocoele/genital swellings and lumps in the body.
The Chief Medical director UMTH, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo who spoke at a press briefing heralding the week-long event marking the anniversary of the hospital that began on Monday, said the medical outreach and other activities would include medical and surgical outreach in Qwange ward, Maiduguri and Kaleri ward in Jere local government area, surgical outreach at UMTH trauma centre, career guidance at the UMTH auditorium and conference centre, public lecture at the UMTH auditorium and conference centre, commissioning and foundation laying of legacy projects by the special guest of honour, Vice president Kashim Shettima among others.
He said one of the legacy projects to be commissioned by the Vice president is the child institute, a centre established by the hospital to tackle all child related ailments including surgery.
Prof. Ahidjo said the hospital, which was commissioned by former President Shehu Shagari administration in 1983 to provide high quality healthcare to Nigerians, is forty years old this year, noting that in the last forty years of the establishment of the hospital, it has immensely impacted in not only the North East Region, but also extended its services to students and patients coming from the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
He said interestingly, the hospital has been in the forefront in so many different areas, contributing relevant research and proving accessible services of high-quality, adding that undoubtedly, the hospital has witnessed remarkable growth in physical infrastructure from 300-Bed capacity in 1983 to the current 1200-bed capacity, thereby making it the largest hospital in the country that provides qualitative healthcare services to the society.
According to the CMD, the professionalism of the hospital was recently hugely tested during the COVID-19 pandemic and that happily, UMTH passed the test and was officially designated as one of the few COVID-19 testing and treatment centres in the country.
“Considering the significant achievements in discharging its mandate as one of the
leading Federal Government tertiary health institutions in Nigeria traversing the
entire Chad Basin Area, the immediate-past Board of Management considered and
approved that we organise a befitting programme of activities to commemorate this great achievement.
Subsequently, the Board constituted a seven-man committee to organise the event.
“I am pleased to inform you that since then, the committee has taken necessary steps to ensure a modest and hitch-free celebration as appropriate. Already, arrangements have reached advanced stages towards the take-off of the event, and the top management of the hospital deemed it necessary to brief the media in order to ensure effective mobilisation of the hospital’s relevant stakeholders in the activities lined up for the celebration,” he said.
The CMD called on the federal government to increase funding of the hospital to tackle challenges such as power failure and facilities required for smooth attendance to the health needs of the people.
