By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed the immediate rehabilitation of unoccupied and deteriorated bungalows meant for medical doctors, including the Chief Medical Director (CMD), at the General Hospital in Bama.
The governor gave the directive on Tuesday evening, after inspecting the quarters.
Zulum’s Tuesday visit was a follow-up to his initial surprise showing at the hospital around 10pm on Monday night, for on-the-spot monitoring of public healthcare services.
Zulum directed relevant officials of the Borno State Government to ensure rehabilitation began on Wednesday, expressing his readiness to immediately approve the release of funds after the officials assess all the buildings and determine costs, which the governor insisted, must be done within hours.
He maintained that he wanted the rehabilitation to start during his ongoing stay in Bama for days of humanitarian and developmental activities.
The governor said it was urgent that the CMD and other doctors are provided accommodation within the hospital so they could be readily available including at late hours, to attend to health emergencies, should they arise.
Zulum also directed that the hospital’s perimeter fence be raised higher with barred wires and lighting installed around the quarters and the general premises, to improve security.
Worried by his on-the-spot finding that only two medical doctors and 10 nurses and midwives currently operate at Bama’s General Hospital, Governor Zulum directed the urgent recruitment of 30 healthcare personnel combining medical doctors, nurses and midwives as well as pharmacists and lab technicians.
Zulum’s order was also made on Tuesday evening, during his follow-up visit to the hospital.
The governor held a closed doors meeting that was attended by the state’s Commissioner of Health, Professor Mohammed Arab, CMD and other top management staff of the hospital, among some top officials.
The meeting which was held at the hospital, identified challenges of the hospital, which needed urgent intervention.
Zulum directed the state’s commissioner of health and other relevant commissioners to address issues of lower solar power voltage and that of fans.
The governor directed the health commissioner to ensure that the key problems raised by the hospital’s management were quickly addressed.
Meanwhile, Zulum said he was happy that he met a doctor and nurses during his two visits on Monday night and Tuesday evening.
He also commended the hospital’s sanitary condition as well as the availability and maintenance of functional medical facilities.
Speaking during the governor’s visit on Tuesday evening, a highly respected medical professional, Dr Olugbenga Aina said the hospital has received a substantial amount of drugs which Zulum had released for free prescribed distribution to patients.
The Dr. said the hospital was able to meet the needs of numerous patients which made it necessary for it to make fresh requests.
Zulum therefore, approved release of additional drugs and medical reagents used for diagnostic purposes, to the general hospital.
