The Borno State Government has donated N500 million to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to support the recovery of the hospital after the flood that devastated it on September 10.
The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, one of the main government healthcare institutions in northeastern Nigeria, was severely affected by the flood. To support the recovery efforts, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum presented the check to the Coordinating Minister of Health, Mohammad Pate, during the latter's visit to the state last Tuesday.
The Borno government has received cash and material donations of over N20 billion to support flood victims in the state.
Newslodgereported that thousands of people were displaced and more than 30 died in the floods in the capital of Borno.
Public and private facilities like the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital also lost valuables worth billions of naira.
On Tuesday, Zulum emphasized the crucial role of the federal government-owned hospital in the state’s healthcare sector, saying: “The contribution of the University of Maiduguri to the growth and development of the healthcare sector cannot be overemphasized. “The Borno State Government is therefore willing to contribute its small contribution towards the restoration of the flood damaged facilities by donating N500 million.”
The governor noted that although the hospital belongs to the federal government, more than 90 percent of its beneficiaries are from Borno State. “In addition to this, we will partner with the hospital to seek further funding to enable its full restoration,” he added.
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Pate expressed gratitude for the state's support and said the federal government appreciates the state's efforts in rebuilding the hospital.
He also emphasized the importance of unity, stating: “The realization that we are all in this together is immensely meaningful to us. I assure you, on behalf of His Excellency the President and our entire team, that we truly appreciate this gesture on your part. “In the face of the devastation caused by recent tragedies, their willingness to act is commendable.”
The Minister then highlighted the regional importance of the hospital.
“During my first visit, the hospital was underwater. Now, after extensive evaluations, we have seen the vital role this hospital plays, not only for much of Nigeria but also for six neighboring countries that depend on its services. “This underscores the importance of prioritizing the reconstruction of this facility,” he said.
Pate also assured collaboration with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital to efficiently mobilize resources, noting that the cash contribution from the Borno government “will significantly bolster our efforts and we are committed to doing more to support them.”
After assessing the extent of the devastation at the facility, Pate praised the entire hospital led by CMD Ahmad Ahijo and other senior management.
“I would also like to congratulate the CMD and his management team,” he said. “From the beginning, you have dedicated yourself to this crucial project, often working late into the night and maintaining open communication. His commitment to the hospital, its staff and patients is a notable example of leadership. Thank you for your collaboration with the government and all our partners as we address this crisis together. “We will continue to support these efforts and strive for further improvements.”
Last month, the university hospital shut down services when the entire facility was submerged in flood water, forcing patients to evacuate for about two weeks.
Ahidjo told Newslodgethat the extent of damage to some hospital equipment is yet to be determined. So far, the estimate to repair the machines is over N10 billion.
“We now have only one machine and fixing it will cost N2.8 billion. We are still collecting data on the value and how much it will cost to replace or repair these machines. But for now, I can tell you that the damage exceeds N10 billion,” he said on Monday.
Newslodgereported that several high-tech equipment, such as the 120 Slice CT, the linear accelerator for the cancer center, Elekta linear accelerators, brachytherapy machines and a large bore CT simulator from Canon, were affected by the disaster of the floods.