By Sam Kayode
In a bid to ensure a centralized zonal referral system with a heavy dose of sophisticated equipments in northern Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the upgrade of the General hospital Monguno to a specialist hospital.
The implication of this upgrade is that there would be more medical personnel to treat increased cases of emergencies from the entire zone and unless necessary, patients would not need to rush to Maiduguri for certain grades of emergency operations.
When completed, the N 3 billion envisaged refurbished hospital project is expected to cater for at least ten council areas within the northern senatorial zone which has been brutalised by the 15 year old insurgency war in the state.
The Borno Governor made these pronouncement recently when he commissioned three land mark projects including a school of nursing in Monguno.
The three projects opened in one day is a school of nursing to increase professionals in that field, dental and Eye hospital for the care of residents.
Governor Zulum regretted that in spite of the fact that Borno was created about 50 years ago, vital medical departments like the dental and eye clinics are unfortunately still domiciled in the state capital Maiduguri leaving the other zones deprived of such facilities even at the level of emergency.
Professor Zulum maintained that it was his intention to ensure that all the senatorial zones in the state have access to specialist treatments which the central zone dominated by Bama and Maiduguri is enjoying now.
To pin vital professionals on the ground, Prof Zulum assured that a befitting accommodation will be provided to all the staff regardless of cadre so that they will be comfortable while serving the state in the two zones where new facilities are being built for the residents of the state.
The Governor assured that he will erect residential facilities for all the medical practitioners posted to the town to maintain the eye and dental hospital already commissioned adding that 100 houses will be built for the medical team and teachers helping to support the reconstruction processes.
When the Monguno specialist hospital is complete, certain residency courses shall be introduced to enhance the much needed personnel training which has badly affected the fabrics of the medical sector in the entire state.
“What matters is the human resources for the health sector which is key to training the younger ones to become nurses and midwives.” Said Zulum.
Prof Zulum noted that his visit coincided with the flag off of the provision of free eye surgery service being conducted at the general hospital to residents of the zone.
The Governor vowed to complete the battered trunk A road connecting Maiduguri to Mairari before the end of his tenure in 2027 adding that Maiduguri to Mairari and Maiduguri to Tungushe are about the worse areas hindering free access to Monguno.
Wants military to monitor and protect the new edifices
Governor Zulum called on the military and the entire joint security apparatus of the state to ensure that they secure the three projects commissioned this week.
The Governor further commended the hospital management board for providing security to the entire general hospital area which has been serving hundreds of residents in the zone.
Commissioner of Health Baba Malam Gana in his remarks described the commissioning as a milestone in the anals of the government adding that this can only happen when there is a visioner that places health at the centre of his focus.
The Commissioner posited that child healthcare is a challenge in the state adding that competent professionals who can meet up to the increasing problems in the sector do not exit which is why the new College of nursing in Monguno is crucial in salvaging monguno from the list of 13 labeled council areas with maternal health in the state.
“Students who come here will carry the ability to save lives. No mother child or family must suffer due to the lack of adequate care givers
“I call on parents to take advantage of this privileges in the institution. This is leading to the building and saving of lives.The dental and eye clinic will assist in serving the ten LGAs in the zone said Prof Gana.
The Commissioner further hinted that the school of nursing in Gwoza will soon be completed to serve and support the southern zone of the state.
Professor Gana commended the Governor for supporting the health sector with a budgetary provision of over 15% of the budget for the last two years.
When completed the Monguno specialist hospital will have multiple centres manned by specialized doctors.
