The Chief Medical Director University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital UMTH,Professor Ahmed Ahidjo has advocated for more funding to the healthcare sector to tackle myriad of health challenges in the county.
Professor Ahidjo made the call at a media briefing of the Heralding Fortieth Anniversary Celebration of UMTH.
He observed that the budgetary provisions for the Teaching Hospital is not enough to cover for costs of services, equipment and other essential items that have exponentially increased due to inflation.
The Chief Medical Director noted that despite the challenges, UMTH has impacted immensely on patients not only in the North East but also neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger republics.
According to him, in the last forty years, the hospital has witnessed remarkable growth in infrastructure from 300-bed to the current 1200-bed capacity, establishe many Centres including Trauma, Kidney, Burns and that of Cancer.
“The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital’s Board of Management at its 56th meeting held on 19th May, 2023 approved the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the hospital ” Ahidjo Said.
Professor Ahmed Ahidjo said other activities lined up for the celebration include medical and surgical outreach to over 500 poor and vulnerable people in two communities of Kalari and Gwange of the metropolis, career guidance and public lecture, while the main anniversary ceremony will be attended by Vice President Kashin Shettima on Sunday.
“It is an opportunity for celebrating the impact and progress we have made in line with the National Health Policy and Programmes, it enables us to celebrate the contributions of many prominent individuals, groups and organisations towards the growth and development of the hospital and also project into the future” Chief Medical Director added.
According to correspondent report,the Federal government under the leadership of President Shehu Shagari officially inaugurated the hospital in 1983 to provide high quality healthcare to people of the region and beyond.
Dauda Iliya
