Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has presented a cheque of N100 million to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for its development.
This is just as Zulum laid the foundation for the construction of 24 units of 3-bedroom apartments for medical staff of the hospital.
According to a statement made available to The Star on Saturday, the apartments are to be fit into four blocks of two-storey buildings with each to contain six units of three bedrooms.
Speaking at a brief ceremony within the premises of the UMTH along Bama road in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Friday, Governor Zulum directed a construction firm to deliver the apartments within six months while releasing funds for the construction.
Although UMTH is owned by the Federal Government, the hospital, Zulum noted, is a pride to the people of Borno State for providing medical services to thousands of citizens of the state.
“Let me first and foremost convey the deepest appreciation of the people and government of Borno State to the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for the services you have been rendering to our people.
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“We shall continue to give you support in any way we can to ensure that our people get the services they deserve,” the governor said.
He stated that while the N100m was to augment funding gaps for medical consumables and other needs, the 24 apartments were meant to reduce housing deficits and to accommodate more medical doctors within the hospital so as to keep them closer to the patients, thereby speeding access to healthcare, especially on cases of medical emergencies.
On his part, Chief Medical Director of UMTH, Prof Ahmed Ahidjo, thanked Governor Zulum for his support to the hospital.
“I would not hide my feelings. As I was walking with His Excellency (Governor Zulum) tears were running down my face. I had to turn and clean my tears. Not every leader that comes to visit you (at a hospital) cares to ask about the challenges you face almost all the time and tries to help on many occasions. Not everybody can do this. Your Excellency, we cherish your compassion.
“Many times when the governor shows up he is always the first to ask about the challenges we are facing before we even start to mention them. He has supported us with a befitting auditorium, supported us with funds for research, supported us with some funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and today he is here to take the burden of building apartments for our doctors”, Ahidjo said.
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