UMTH: Biomedical Engineering, Keeping Up With Patient’s Medical/Healthcare Needs

By: Balami Lazarus

Most people limit engineering to civil, electrical, mechanical, aeronautics, building, hydroengineering, and a few others. However, engineering is wide and vast, not limited to the few fields mentioned. Are you aware that the human body system is a work of bioengineering?

NEWSng was recently at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and was informed of the roles of biomedical engineering in maintenance and services for keeping the hospital’s biomedical machines running, such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT scan (Computed Tomography) scanner machines are all used for diagnosis.

Biomedical engineering is a rare field of engineering that deals and works with delicate, sensitive hospital machines for better medical and healthcare services that are carried out through some of these machines.

Therefore, biomedical engineering combines engineering arts and principles with medical and biological sciences through biomechanics/devices to enhance better medical care services in the hospital.

Speaking with Engr. Silas Habu Gamdu, the head of biomedical engineering of UMTH, said that hospitals like UMTH cannot stand without biomedical engineers in discharging their medical services for those in need in order to diagnose and understand their ailments. “Most of the delicate and sensitive machines of this hospital, like MRI and CT scans, are basically used for diagnosis as a human lifeline to improve medical/healthcare.”

Engr. Habu Gamdu further informed NEWSng that UMTH is an institutional hospital where teaching and medical research are part of her primary responsibilities. The need for biomedical machines is necessary. The status of UMTH under the leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, where we have specialized medical centers…These

Biomedical machines like Fresenius, Baxter, NIPRO, and PET, among others, are like jugular veins that indicate and determine patients’ clinical diagnoses—ailments/treatments.

Engr. Habu emphasized this by saying, “There are many other machines in the hospital that the biomedical engineers maintained to enable the hospital to perform at its maximum capacity in diagnosis.”

NEWSng findings revealed that biomedical engineers not only work with hospitals and clinics but are also found in medical companies and research institutions, including pharmaceutical industries.

Engr. Gamdu said that his department is faced with inadequate biomedical engineers considering the extent and large numbers of biomedical machines/tools available in the hospital.

UMTH: Biomedical Engineering, Keeping Up With Patient’s Medical/Healthcare Needs

Women’s Rights Are Fundamental, Not Favors, Ojukwu Tells Global Forum in New York

By: Michael Mike

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, has declared that women’s rights are fundamental human entitlements and not privileges to be granted by men, calling for stronger global commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance.

Speaking at a sideline event during the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session in New York, Ojukwu emphasized that the struggle for gender equality must be rooted in justice and fairness, noting that women are not seeking special treatment but demanding rights that are inherently theirs. He urged men to play an active role in supporting gender equity, stressing that meaningful progress requires collective responsibility.

The event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing women’s rights. Ojukwu underscored the importance of inclusion in decision-making processes, stating that policies affecting women cannot be effectively shaped without their direct participation. “You cannot talk about women without having them at the table,” he said.

Highlighting internal reforms within the NHRC, he disclosed that the Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and significantly increased women’s representation in leadership, with women now occupying 10 out of 15 director-level positions. He noted that creating safe and empowering environments enables women to thrive and contribute meaningfully across sectors.

Ojukwu further stressed that economic empowerment and sustained awareness are critical tools in tackling gender-based violence, which remains a major challenge globally. He called for sustained partnerships and practical interventions to ensure that women and girls are protected and given equal opportunities to succeed.

The event also drew participation from prominent Nigerian figures, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Temitope Ogunwusi, among others, reflecting Nigeria’s high-level engagement in global conversations on gender equality.

The discussions at the forum reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls, with stakeholders calling for stronger collaboration to drive justice, inclusion, and sustainable development.

Women’s Rights Are Fundamental, Not Favors, Ojukwu Tells Global Forum in New York

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI FOIL COORDINATED TERRORIST ATTACKS AT NJIMTILO, BAGA, BURATAI , DAMBOA, INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES ON ISWAP FIGHTERS

By: Our Reporter

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have once again demonstrated superior combat readiness and tactical dominance by successfully thwarted terrorist attacks launched by ISWAP fighters on multiple troops locations at Njimtilo, Baga, Buratai and Damboa. The attacks, which occurred in the early hours of 16 March 2026, were mounted from several directions in a desperate attempt by the terrorists to gain propaganda advantage and overrun military positions.

At Ajiri Cross, ahead of Njimtilo, terrorists attempted to infiltrate positions mounted by troops of Sector 1 but were swiftly detected and decisively engaged by the vigilant troops who had anticipated the move and prepared a deliberate offensive-defensive posture to defeat the assault. Through coordinated firepower and tactical manoeuvre designed to disrupt the attackers and cut off their withdrawal routes, the terrorists were routed and forced into a disorganised retreat while suffering heavy casualties. Similar desperate attacks at Baga, Buratai and Damboa were met with determined resistance as troops brought superior firepower to bear on the attackers. The engagements were further reinforced by timely close air support from the Air Component and the Nigerian Army Aviation, whose precision strikes disrupted the terrorists’ assault formations and compounded their losses as they attempted to withdraw.

During the engagements, several terrorists were neutralised, including a key leader who spearheaded the Buratai assault, while many others sustained injuries as they fled along their withdrawal routes. Despite the intensity of the firefights, which resulted in the destruction of some equipment and a number of wounded personnel, troops remained resolute and maintained firm control of all locations while continuing exploitation operations to pursue the fleeing terrorists.

Following the engagements, troops conducted exploitation operations around Baga, extending to Korochara and Garin Giwa ahead of the Gidan Kaje general area. During the exploitation, troops recovered significant quantities of enemy weapons and equipment, including 3 PKT machine guns, 7 AK-47 rifles, 206 rounds of PKT ammunition, 418 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition, 7 AK-47 magazines, 3 AK-74 magazines and 3 RPG bombs. Other items recovered include 2 camel bags, 3 head warmers, 1 blanket, 1 magazine carrier and 1 litre of engine oil, while 3 motorcycles used by the terrorists were also destroyed. In addition, 7 terrorist corpses were recovered while the miscreants buried another 20 bodies in shallow graves.

These failed attacks further demonstrate the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure from OPHK forces across the Theatre. The successive defeats inflicted on the terrorists have significantly constrained their freedom of action and disrupted their attempts to create false propaganda narratives.

Troops remain in high spirits and continue to dominate the operational environment through superior tactical coordination, decisive firepower and sustained offensive operations against terrorist enclaves and logistics corridors. Operation HADIN KAI therefore reassures the public that all affected locations remain firmly under the control of own troops and that the Joint Task Force remains fully committed and capable of decisively defeating terrorist elements across the North East. Members of the public are also urged to remain vigilant and disregard disinformation and fake reports aimed at undermining ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI FOIL COORDINATED TERRORIST ATTACKS AT NJIMTILO, BAGA, BURATAI , DAMBOA, INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES ON ISWAP FIGHTERS

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