By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved N465 million and allocated space for the establishment of a National Orthopaedic Hospital in Azare, the headquarters of Hawul Local Government Area in Southern Borno. The project aims to address the region’s urgent need for specialized orthopaedic care.
Governor Zulum disclosed this on Thursday evening while receiving an accreditation team from the Federal Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Jimoh O. Saludeen, Director of Hospital Services. This was contained in a statement issued Friday by Abdurrahman Bundi, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor.
The governor revealed that the state government would cede ownership of the General Hospital, Azare, to facilitate the establishment of the orthopaedic hospital. He emphasized that the allocated N465 million would be used to rehabilitate the facility entirely, including the staff quarters.
“We have the General Hospital in Azare belonging to the Borno State Government. We will move them to another location, and I have approved the sum of N465 million for its rehabilitation. We are not only ceding the hospital but also the staff quarters,” Zulum said.
He further assured additional support if needed, stating, “The federal government might own the hospital, but the greatest beneficiaries are the people of Borno State.”
Earlier, Dr. Jimoh O. Saludeen commended Governor Zulum for his leadership and support in facilitating the establishment of the hospital. He noted that the team’s visit was to assess the proposed site following the president’s approval.
The delegation included Midala Balami, the member representing Askira/Hawul Constituency in the House of Representatives; his predecessor, Dr. Haruna Mishelia, who sponsored the bill for the hospital’s establishment; Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; and other senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Also present at the meeting were the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, and Dr. Mairo Mandara, Chief Adviser to the Governor and Coordinator for Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Response.
