UMTH – PRC: When Hope For Patients With Disabilities Rises.

UMTH – PRC: When Hope For Patients With Disabilities Rises.

By: Balami Lazarus

People with disabilities have been on the rise in the North-East of Nigeria for a very long time as a result of the security concerns that some areas of the region are currently experiencing. The number of people with disabilities has increased as a result of this challenge, which is in its thirteenth year. But when the CMD, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, approached the predicament with lovely thoughts, a dream that became a reality for individuals wanting limbs and legs, hope began to rise. At the groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital’s Physical Rehabilitation Center on August 28, 2019, this dream was realized.

This was added to the extensive network of specialist Centers established by the group of experts headed by the CMD. The success and accomplishments of the Professor of Interventional Radiology who has become an undisputed strategic management guru have been covered by NEWSng in part because of their focus on the fruitfulness of purpose and turning aspirations into reality. He still holds the record for UMTH having the most specialist medical centers out of all the country’s tertiary hospitals, which puts UMTH at the top of the list.

Those who thought the media coverage on the UMTH was just another cheap publicity that does not hold water have come to agree with the project on ground and acknowledge that the publicity is a water shade of the things they saw. They therefore call for more publicity on happenings in the UMTH as according to them they have not seen such remarkable achievements so under-reported by the media.

“Tell me where do you find a highly sophisticated equipped Physical Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) that is of international standard, which can design, create , manufacture and produce excellent artificial body parts like limbs and legs including crutches, wheelchairs and other accessories to help victims of war, bomb blast, terrorist attacks who might have lost parts of their body , except at Physical Rehabilitation Centre Borno state?  This is as a result of the CMDs efforts of Professor Ahmed Ahidjo .

“Today the residents of Borno state and the entire North – East are happy as UMTH in collaboration with International Committee of the Red cross ( ICRC ) built the Physical Rehabilitation Center as a medical facility for persons with disabilities came to reality with 3.5 million dollars equivalent to one point three billion naira (1.3 billion naira).” Dr. Abdulrahman Jajere reveals while taking the NEWSng team round the centre.

To mark the construction of the Centre in the hospital premises, the CMD said that the project for the Centre is divided into two phases , the first is for staff training which has been done, while the second is for physical development which has also been completed. In order to man and handle this specialized Centre,  equipment and materials the Centre is equipped with modern machines working in full capacity. 

“The Physical Rehabilitation Centre will no doubt go a long way to helping those with disabilities by providing clinical services as well as prosthetics and orthotics services.” Professor Ahidjo said, adding that, ” My dream as CMD is to make UMTH the best in the country by improving service delivery, skills, infrastructure and manpower development.” 

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Dr. Abdulrahaman Mohammed Jajere who is in charge of the PRC added that ” the Centre has the best computerized machines and tools to design and produce man-made limbs and legs. There is none like this Centre , considering our equipment and materials available “. 

While plans are made, the work at the UMTH Physical Rehabilitation Centre would not have been possible without the help of those people who believe in the CMD’s vision. When the CMD approached him with the details of his administrative concentration on the center, it was learned during the teams round that Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate Chambers, had tuned into this idea and had worked to support the CMD in making a difference.

Many of the people who came to the center to benefit from it would also remember Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume’s name when the narrative of this resourcefulness was told.

Dr. Jajere said, ” We have staff that are professionals in their fields and are well trained for the job. Today, hospitals within and without are referring patients with disabilities who are in need of the Centre services.”

Ahidjo’s management fantasy is beautiful in that he always behaves like Oliver Twist, no matter where he is. There is no doubt that Professor Ahidjo has put the hospital on the map of global tertiary hospitals when examining UMTH today in light of the CMD aspirations. However, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo’s words and deeds reveal that he is more driven than ever to provide better services, and his perseverance is getting him where he wants to go.

UMTH – PRC: When Hope For Patients With Disabilities Rises.