News
UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing

UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing
By: Balami Lazarus
Hospitals are considered universally to be the most serene environment where patients are expected to have the best healthcare services and attention and also to be provided with quality medical treatment and care through their doctors and caregivers, aided by other health workers, to enable the sick ones to recuperate, feel better, and get well. How can our hospitals achieve this?
However, this can be achieved not only by discharging their primary objectives through the provision of medical treatments but also in some other related friendly environmental health windows.
When the NEWSng team took a post-flood visit to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) recently to assess some projects like the one and only Interventional Radiology Centre (IRC) in Nigeria and the Stroke Centre (SC), among other few ongoing projects that are not peculiar to most hospitals in Nigeria.

Farms are of different types, but the one in question herein is an orchard, a special kind of farm. Orchards have never been part of the hospital environment, while gardens and parks are a common sight in our hospitals. Therefore, UMTH, under the able good leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, decided to make yet another landmark by establishing a large orchard within the hospital premises in Maiduguri.
Why an orchard in UMTH? Speaking to the CMD, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo on the Orchard project, he happily said, “The Orchard is meant to provide a conducive environmental atmosphere/space for patients, their relatives, visitors, staff, and students to have contact with and the feel of the natural environment provided by the Orchard.” He further emphasized by saying that “patients will have a natural environment for them to relax, which will help in their healing processes.” He informed NEWSng that it is also meant to provide sources of fresh fruits for the patients and members of the hospital community at affordable prices. “The Orchard is not only established to provide leisure/relaxation, but its products—fruits—are going to be sold to assist in maintaining the facilities of the orchard.”

In the course of our reports, NEWSng spoke to Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Dawule, officer in charge of the orchard, who took us round. The Orchard is 1.75 hectares of land totaling 26 plots that are 25 meters in size. Abubakar Dawule said that each plot is planted with a single variety of economic tree that bears quality fruits. All the plots are planted with single different varieties of economic trees like cashew, custard apple tree , mango , orange, banana, guava, mango apple, pawpaw, date trees, tangerine, berries of different kinds, watermelon, and other varieties of economic trees/plants.”
Sadiq further informed NEWSng that the aims of the orchard are “to create a green area of plantation that will provide economic trees for the production of fruits.” He also said that is to help reduce global warming and provide protection for the hospital’s environmental beauty. “To have natural environment space for nutritional benefits of patients to improve their healing.
UMTH Orchard has standard functional facilities like a water fountain, a set of concrete backrest seats in each plot, and an office block consisting of shops, stores, and restrooms. The orchard is beautifully designed with paved walkways to each plot and free flow of water to all the plots. It is fenced with one main entrance. These efforts are carried out by an 18-man workforce, including security operatives, to secure the orchard.

Interestingly, the UMTH Orchard was sponsored by a well-meaning Nigerian Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu (Zanna Bungudu), a member of the National Assembly—House of Representatives representing the Bungudu/Maru Federal constituency of Zamfara State, with the sum of 20 million Naira.
Challenges faced by the Orchard, according to Abubakar Sadiq Dawule, are the need for additional borehole walkways and lights and more fertilizer/manure.
Garden scissors, an axe, a cutlass, and watering cans, among other handy tools, “are necessary for the maintenance of the orchard.”
UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing
News
We Share in Your Loss: Senator Oluremi Tinubu Visits Adamawa State Over Flood Disaster, Donates ₦500 Million, Food Items, and Launches Entrepreneur Support Fund

We Share in Your Loss: Senator Oluremi Tinubu Visits Adamawa State Over Flood Disaster, Donates ₦500 Million, Food Items, and Launches Entrepreneur Support Fund
By: Our Reporter
The flood disaster which occurred in Sabon Pegi, Shagari Phase 2, Lakare, and other settlements in Yola South affected one hundred and eighty thousand (180,000) households and claimed twenty-nine (29) lives. Sources of livelihood were also destroyed by the disaster.

First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, disclosed that the loss suffered by the people of Adamawa State is shared by the nation.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Nana Shettima, who visited Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to sympathize with Governor Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri, the Government, and the people of Adamawa, she offered her deepest condolences over the tragedy.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu said:
“I pray that Almighty God comforts the bereaved families, heals the injured, and strengthens all those affected. May God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.”
The First Lady added:
“I wish to announce that the Governing Council of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has approved the donation of ₦500 million to flood victims in the state to help them rebuild and heal. We are also donating 100 bales of Ankara fabrics.”
In addition to this support during the flood relief effort, the RHI Women Economic Empowerment Programme, in conjunction with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is distributing ₦50,000 each to fifty thousand (50,000) women entrepreneurs in Adamawa, as well as in the other thirty-six (36) states, to help recapitalize their businesses.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, expressed gratitude to the First Lady and the Renewed Hope Initiative for the generous assistance, which she said had given the state confidence in overcoming the challenges caused by the flood disaster. The Deputy Governor stated that the quick intervention of the Adamawa State Government had cushioned the effect on affected communities and that, with this donation from RHI, the healing process would be fast-tracked.

Food items under the Social Investment Scheme of RHI were presented to the Government of Adamawa State for distribution. The RHI Food Outreach Programme, which addresses the immediate needs of beneficiaries, mostly persons living with disabilities, is aimed at ensuring that the vulnerable have access to nutritious food and that their dignity is preserved.
Dr. Ubon Udoh of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), one of the industrialists supporting the programme, said they share the same ideology with RHI of giving succour to the less privileged, hence their partnership.
We Share in Your Loss: Senator Oluremi Tinubu Visits Adamawa State Over Flood Disaster, Donates ₦500 Million, Food Items, and Launches Entrepreneur Support Fund
News
Two farmers killed, others injured in Gombe–Bauchi border attack

Two farmers killed, others injured in Gombe–Bauchi border attack
By: Zagazola Makama
Two farmers have been killed and two others injured following an attack by suspected armed men at Luse-Janje bush, located within the Bauchi State grazing reserve, police in Gombe have confirmed.
Sources confirmed the attack to Zagazola noting that the incident occurred on Monday, Aug. 4. around 3:10 p.m.
The sources said four farmers, Ali Jauro, 50, Isah Garba, and two others, all of the same address, were cultivating their farmland when about 20 armed men surrounded and attacked them with machetes, bows and arrows, and sticks.
“Ali Jauro and Isah Garba sustained multiple cuts to the head and were later confirmed dead, while the other two sustained varying degrees of injuries,” the sources said.
The victims were rushed to the Primary Health Centre in Malala, and the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the public mortuary.
The surviving victims named Adamu Sankace, Adamu Maidawa, and one Oshe all of Garin Alhaji Wada village via Darazo LGA, Bauchi State as being among the attackers.
Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the suspects by the authorities.#
Two farmers killed, others injured in Gombe–Bauchi border attack
News
Six injured as troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Katsina

Six injured as troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with the police, vigilantes and Community Watch Corps (C-Watch), repelled a bandit attack on Tashar Gemu and Unguwar Gambo villages in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday. During the confrontation, six residents sustained varying degrees of injuries, while one later died at the hospital, police authorities said.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the hoodlums, who invaded the villages in large numbers, were engaged in a fierce gun battle by a combined team of security operatives under Operation FANSAN YANMA.
He said the assailants were subdued and forced to retreat into the surrounding bush.
“The injured victims include Sani Umar, Shamsu Isah, Usman Rabiu, Adamu Amadu, and Isah Abdullahi, the sources said.
“All six victims were rushed to the General Hospital in Malumfashi for medical attention, where Sani Umar was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.” He added
He said security patrols have been intensified in the area to forestall further attacks and to apprehend the fleeing assailants.
Six injured as troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Katsina
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