My Binocular: Federal Orthopedic Hospital Azare achieves first interlocking intramedullary femoral nailing operation

My Binocular: Federal Orthopedic Hospital Azare achieves first interlocking intramedullary femoral nailing operation

By: Bodunrin Kayode

I got to know Dr Ali Ramat when I was directed to see him by the CMD of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Professor Ahmed Ahidjo a couple of years ago. He was to analyze the results from a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) I had undergone for the bottom side of my cerebrospinal region and treat me of the pains. I suddenly developed some serious pains towards the bottom of my back due obviously to a car crash I was involved in about 25 years ago in Niger state where I served as the correspondent of the guardian newspaper. I was treated then in the National Hospital Abuja and told to go home and rest instead of an immediate operation to fix back some of the shifted ribs as the X-ray depicted. 25 years later, possibly due to advancing age, the intervertebral stops down there as I want to address them in layman’s language are screaming pains due to stress whenever I indulge in long distance driving. Dr Ramat looked at the results I brought from Prof Zainab a consultant radiologist who ran the MRI and gave me some drugs which I took and the pain left. In my usual way I never left his office without saying thank you and prying into his young background. That was when he told me about his specialist training in Turkey on spinal matters. I was excited at the zeal of such a young professional who seemed to be moving at a speed far higher than his contemporaries in the same UMTH where he trained.

The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) is truly a citadel for the hatching of great minds dominating the medical sector in Nigeria. Within the last decade, it has produced several Chief Medical Directors now managing sister medical institutions in the entire North East region of the country. One of those products of the ” Prof Ahmed Ahidjo mentoring school” is Dr Ali Ramat of the department of orthopedic medicine. Ramat a young enterprising consultant orthopedic and spine surgeon calls Prof Ahidjo his mentor because he was instrumental in the advancement of his career in Turkey where he expanded his orthopedic knowledge by specializing in the critical spinal region. As an orthopedic Doctor, Ramat has treated several bone cases in the UMTH where he became one of the apples of the eye of the CMD Prof Ahidjo such that immediately it was time to set up the National Orthopedic Hospital Azare (NOHA) in Borno State, he was quickly recommended and today he is the first Medical Director of that Hospital. He follows the trail of Professor Chubado Tahir another mentee of the Ahidjo school who is equally managing the National Orthopedic Hospital Jalingo (NOHJ) and many others.

First successful operation in the National Orthopedic Hospital Azare, Borno State

After a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the federal and state government in May 2025 for the speedy take off of the facility, the newly appointed Medical Director Dr Ali Ramat hit the ground running by assembling his team of 29 doctors some of whom were equally seconded from the UMTH. The State government led by Professor Babagana Zulum had already given out it’s take off facility which is the former general hospital Azare and was very happy about the development. Commissioner of health Prof Baba Mallam Gana was beyond happiness because he is now the special apple of the eyes of Prof Zulum his Principal.

The speed with which the hospital had to take off without any take off grant from its federal benefactors did not affect him yet he started work. He was really in a hurry to stamp his knowledge acquired on the sands of time by ensuring that humanity is served quality dividends in a very short period. And that is what he did on the 6th of January this year which was my birthday. It was a special day in the anals of medicine in North East Nigeria and my special day too. In our chit chat, Ramat announced his first feat in the hospital this way. “Today Tuesday 6th January 2026 the National Orthopaedic Hospital Azare Hawul Borno State successfully conducted its first Orthopaedic Surgery of (interlocking intramedullary femoral nailing). The team was led by the Medical Director Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. The patient is recuperating ” he said to me in a short, sweet and what I can describe as journalistic way. I am happy for him because he is a very young consultant who still has many years ahead of him before he begins to get tired or depreciate due to the law of diminishing returns which is quite natural with our common humanity. With this feat Ramat has started to write his name in gold in the country. He is also getting ready to move in a meteoric speed to serve humanity in a big way beyond northern Nigeria. Meanwhile as he and his team of about 29 doctors and 16 nurses wait for the usual red tape to be concluded in Abuja for more equipment to be supplied to the facility, Ramat has opened the hospital to everyone who is sick to approach them for treatment. This is a good beginning for orthopedic medication in Borno and Nigeria in general. Congratulations my friend Dr Ramat.

My Binocular: Federal Orthopedic Hospital Azare achieves first interlocking intramedullary femoral nailing operation