Army reference hospitals’ll be made on par with teaching hospitals – COAS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says his administration has plans to intervene in the Army Reference Hospitals in Lagos, Kaduna and Abuja to make them on par with teaching hospitals.

Lagbaja said this on Tuesday while speaking to newsmen after inaugurating an upgraded radio-diagnostic centre and installation of 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (44 NARHK).

He added that the projects were testament to the Nigerian Army (NA) higher command’s drive to provide the best of medical care to the soldiers and their families.

Beyond upgrading the reference hospitals, Lagbaja said they were also carrying out interventions at brigade medical centres while were the next level of medical support towards soldiers.

In immediate terms, he said, the NA was looking into brigade medical centres that were not easily accessible.

Lagbaja said that already, he had intervened in Makurdi and currently doing so in Lokoja, Ikeja, Yola , saying, ”from there we will move to other parts of the country.”

Speaking further, the COAS said they were on interventions toward upgrade and construction of more accommodation for personnel.

He stressed that the sound administration mantra of his command philosophy was hinged on the provision of essential welfare support to troops, especially those deployed to theatres of operations across the country.

Lagbaja equally said it was hinged on the welfare of families of the troops in barracks and cantonments across the country.

He stressed that his desire was to ensure that soldiers leaving outside the barracks were entitled to accommodation before the end of the year, especially in highly populated centres like Abuja.

“We are also looking into water, power supply, good roads and other essential welfare support for our personnel.

”All this is designed to motivate them to give their best in the service of the nation in combating threats to security,”he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, the acting Commander, Army Medical Corps , Brig.-Gen. Samson Okoigi, said 44 NARHK stood as a beacon of excellence, one of the three
tertiary hospitals and the flagship medical facility of the NA.

Entrusted with the sacred responsibility of safeguarding the health and well-being of the nation’s brave soldiers.

He said they serve as the base hospital for Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North-East and other critical military
operations across the northern regions.

Okoigi said that the hospitals’ capabilities extend far beyond
routine medical care, encompassing specialised surgeries and diagnostic investigations, reflecting their dedication to upholding the highest standards of care.

Okoigi stressed that, with
state-of-the-art equipment, including a 0.35 Tesla MRI machine and a recently procured MRI machine.

Others include a 16-slice CT scan, fluoroscopy,
mammography, digital X-ray (DR), and ultrasound machines, the facility is poised to revolutionise medical imaging and diagnosis within the Armed force and the broader community.

“It is worth noting that the 1.5 Tesla MRI machine is the only
functional unit in the entire Kaduna metropolis and the Nigerian Army as at today.

”Though in the next few weeks, we will be having another one operational at ACNHA,”he said.

Speaking further, the acting corps commander said the 44 NARHK Radiodiagnostic Centre serves as a
training hub, accepting residency postings from family medicine,
orthopaedic surgery, general surgery and hosting students for internship training.

He equally said they were committed to fostering collaborations with institutions like ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria, to facilitate the posting of radiology residents.

This is to enhance their
manpower capabilities and elevate the centre’s capacity to deliver
exceptional diagnostic services.

“The challenge of inadequate manpower
to man this equipment cannot be overemphasized.

”We are working in collaboration with sister training institutions like the ABU Teaching Hospital and Kaduna State University Teaching Hospital to mitigate this challenge as much as possible,”he added.

Also, the Chief Medical Director of 44 NARHK, Col. Stephen Onuchukwu, in his remarks, appreciated the Army Chief for his support and leadership roles.

He reiterated their commitment in discharging their duties professionally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), retired Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, in company of Lagbaja, inaugurated a renovated dining hall and a 1.8KM road at the Command Secondary School, Kaduna.

Amao, who sponsored the project, was a former student of the school in the Class of 1982.

Army reference hospitals’ll be made on par with teaching hospitals – COAS