UMTH: The growing structures – An overview of Professor Ahidjo’s Footprint

UMTH: The growing structures – An overview of Professor Ahidjo’s Footprint

By: Balami Lazarus   

Before 2018 empty spaces and virgin lands were common sight at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). But like humans, the need for growth through developmental projects is essential even for an institution like the UMTH. Between 2018 and now, infrastructures at the UMTH shows that the hospital has come a long way from 1983, when it was established as a federal institution and the largest hospital in northeast Nigeria.

NEWSng reports that a remarkable difference was noticeable in the last four years courtesy of the Chief visionary – Professor Ahmed Ahidjo and his board. The leadership style in the changing face of the hospital through the Chief Medical Director is fast becoming a song on the lips of children, who also have a complete institute dedicated to them in the hospital.

Also Read: Professor Ahmed Ahidjo: Testimonies from the UMTH

The CMD in the last four years was able to utilize the God given landmass with better infrastructures overtaking the length and width of the landscape of the hospital and the imaginations of many who had known the hospital between 1983 and 2017. These growing structures are mostly for the use of different medical and health- care service delivery with few of them for social services.   

NEWSng reports that some of the completed projects indeed are a plus to medical services, teaching and research. It was also observed that these building projects came with their complete packages of medical materials, equipment, furniture and other tools needed for use by doctors, consultants and health workers for the care of patients and equally to improve teaching and learning for doctors on training. 

Speaking to NEWSng, the CMD who led the tour of the hospital informed the team that every building both completed and equipped and those under construction already have in stock all necessary facilities for takeoff.

“These infrastructures and their facilities serve the needs of some departments in the hospital. The projects are either specialized centers or extensions of other departments.” He said. “All the completed projects are fully occupied and in use. This is aside from those renovated and fixed with new medical facilities. It might interest you to know that most of these projects are sponsored by individuals and corporate bodies.” Professor Ahidjo said.   

Some the completed structures at the UMTH include: 7.5 megawatt power sub- station built by Niger Delta Power Company at the cost of #463 million, 160 rooms hostel building for nurses and health workers, Kashim Shettima Hall consisting of also 160 rooms nursing hostel, 2.5 km road carried out by Engr. Mohammed Bukar former permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Workers and Housing,  Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre,  Centre for Treatment of Burns constructed by  Northeast Development Commission (NEDC ).   

Others are Physical and Rehabilitation Centre sponsored by International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), dualization and road maintenance, executed by Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), solar street lights also by Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH), 1800 seat capacity Zulum Centre. Improvement of medical ward at the cost of 1.6 million dollars, 10 bed intensive care unit for Covid- 19 patients and the expansion of Radiology department with offices for doctors and consultants.   

The achievement so far made under Professor Ahmed Ahidjo at the UMTH makes the hospital the largest in the country. Indeed a centre of excellence and remains the pride of the Nigerian government under successive administrations.

UMTH: The growing structures – An overview of Professor Ahidjo’s Footprint