*commissions Center for Study of Violent Extremism
*commends Military for Restoring Peace
*NEDC supports hospitals, varsity in Borno
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD). Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has presented a N48.3 million cheque to the Department of Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri for cancer disease research.
She also commissioned and handed over Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (CSVE) complex which was constructed by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
The Minister commended the efforts and commitments of the Nigerian Military in the improvement of security and restoration of peace in Borno State and other parts of the North East of the country.
She made the commendation in Maiduguri on Wednesday during her three days state working visit to Borno State to inspect medical and health ongoing projects or buildings in hospitals and hand over medical equipment procured and donated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
The medical equipment were donated and handed over to the Military hospital 7 Division NA Maiduguri Director of Medical Services and Hospital, Lt. Col. Adeniyi Olusakin, Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Chief Medical Director, Professor Audu Wakawa and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri CMD, Professor Ahmed Ahijo on Wednesday.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo
handed over a cheque of N48.3 million to the center for the support of cancer research by the department of Pharmacology of the university, while acknowledging the military in the counter insurgency operations and varsity for promoting local production of treatment for cancer disease.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali said during the donation of the medical equipment to the military at the 7 Division NA Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri Medical Services and Hospital premises, that the commission prioritizes peace and security as part of its mandate which informed the importance given to safety of the people and peace.
He stressed that without peace and security, there wouldn’t be any meaningful development, as such, the commission decided to support the military with some medical equipment for the treatment of soldiers who may have sustained injuries during operations to boost their morale and and enhance medical and healthcare services delivery as part of its mandate
According to him, despite the kinetic and non kinetic approaches to the conflict, NEDC needs to support the military operations.
He urged the military to continue to partner and cooperate with the commission to serve humanity, while calling on the military to make more efforts to recover the remaining people in captivity of the insurgents.
The Minister said, “in fact, what you are doing is not only saving lives, but also reshaping the country to grow.”
She urged the military to make proper use of the equipment provided to them.
In his welcome address, Lt. Col. Adeniyi Olusakin thanked NEDC for the equipment and the state government for their support and interventions in many aspects of the hospital services to the troops and members of the barrack community.
The GOC 7 Division, NA Maiduguri, Major General Wasiu Shaibu appreciated NEDC for its continuous support and pleaded for more interventions in other aspects of the military service.
He also assured that the equipment would be judiciously used and maintained
While the Theater Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Chris G. Musa thanked the federal, state government and NEDC for their untiring support to the NA and assured of continuous loyalty and effective restoration of peace in the North East.
He however, lamented the poor condition of roads and highways linking major towns and cities of the state, which hinders effective operation of the troops against their enemies, while noting that, health is wealth and appreciated the NEDC interventions as well as assured proper use of the equipment.
While commissioning and handing over the center and cheque, the minister commended the contractor for doing a good job and timely completion or delivery of such a project within six months, pointing out that she hopes the center will be a reference point for the whole world and standard research center for the pharmacologists on cancer in the future.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba expressed happiness and joy for the establishment of the center and assured proper use and maintenance of the facility, while requesting for more interventions, support and partnership from the NEDC, as well as appreciating the federal government, Borno State Government and the commission.
At the FNPH , the CMD Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Maiduguri, Prof. Audu Wakawa said while appreciating the donation that the hospital has treated over 15,000 IDPs in Psycosocial trauma and trained over 13,000 personnel to attend to the teeming patients as a result of the high level of trauma cases aming the IDPs and people in goat communities due to the insurgency which had displaced over 2 million people
He said one of the greatest challenges the hospital faces is electricity and beds accommodation, while requesting for additional support from the NEDC.
The CMD acknowledged the revival of the equipment and 500 KVA generator set and thanked the ministry and commission for their support.
MD NEDC assured him of the commission’s further interventions to curtail the cases of trauma among the displaced people.
While at the UMTH, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Prof. Ahmed Ahijo said the hospital is doing well except for its electricity power supply challenges where the hospital spends about N45 million monthly to service their generators but receiving only N8 million from the federal government.
He added that the hospital also suffers bed units problem or challenges for both male and female, while requesting for interventions from the commission.
Appreciating the series of interventions from the commission, the VC pledged to continue to partner with the commission for additional services and support while thanking the federal government, ministry and commission for their supports and encouragements.
The Minister was also at the Maiduguri Flour Mills Limited, where she held about an hour closed door meeting with the management of the company alongside the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum who was represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Isa Marte Hussaini before inspecting some machinery and equipment at the production site of the factory.
In company of the NEDC management and Board members was further at the University of Maiduguri for the handing over the Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (CSVE) Complex and donation to Support Cancer Research project at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Maiduguri.
Items donated include electrolyte analyzer, full auto chemistry analyzer, spectrometer, hematology analyzer, x-ray analogue machine, hospital beds, 500kxa ,therapy machines, scanners, etc
