From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Vice President,Kashim Shettima, has assured that enhanced healthcare delivery is a top priority in the President Bola Tinubu renewed hope administration.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said that the Federal Government will support the training of personnel in its teaching hospitals and other tertiary health institutions in the country to meet emerging challenges of healthcare delivery.
He gave the assurance when he received in audience at the Presidential Villa, the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) led by its Chief Medical Director, Ahmed Ahidjo.
Shettima praised the institution’s current management for the enormous advancements made over the years and stated that they are dedicated to fostering the growth of hospital staff members’ capacities nationwide.
He said, “Training is very essential; we will explore all available windows to support UMTH and other teaching hospitals in the country in the training of their personnel. We will see how our partnership with the private sector can be helpful in this regard.”
“I want to commend the CMD and his team for providing quality leadership to the hospital and all of their subordinates. There have been remarkable improvements witnessed at UMTH since his assumption of duty.
“In terms of staff morale, capacity building and the general outlook of the teaching hospital, the improvements have been massive. The expansion of the hospital from a 600-bed to a 1305-bed facility and equipped with modern facilities. The CMD has been proactive and aggressive in all that he does, including sourcing for external funding,” he added.
Ahidjo earlier in his remarks, said the visit of the team was to thank the Vice President for his support to the institution which spanned over 15 years, and to present the scorecard of the hospital as well as its future plans.
The CMD said with the support of the government and other stakeholders, the hospital has expanded from a 600-bed to a 1,305-bed facility equipped with state-of-the-art machines.
He said that besides building new centres for Trauma, Dialysis, Cancer and Stroke treatment among others, the hospital boasts of over 100 professors in different areas of specialties.
He, however, requested for more support from the Vice President to enable the institution to actualize its objectives of being an international centre of excellence in healthcare delivery and training of personnel through the construction of an electronic health institute to facilitate its digitalization project.
Other members of the delegation include the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Sanusi Ibrahim; Director of Administration, Idris Omar; Director of Clinical Services, Modu Kagu; Director of Research and Ethics, Faruk Buba; Director of Training, Abubakar Mohammed, and the Director of UMTH Kidney Centre, Ibrahim Ummate.