40th anniversary: UMTH Performs Free Surgery On Over 100 Patients
Mohammed Kaka Misau
As part of activities toM mark its 4th anniversary, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) has commenced free medical outreach to some communities in the state.
Speaking during the medical outreach, an ophthalmologist in the hospital, Professor Bala Hassan Askira, said that the exercise is being carried out in Kalari Community as well as Gonge Maternity Hospital.
According to him, the medical outreach undertaken by the teaching hospital has been executed by the medical and Dental Alumni of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
He said over 500 patients were attended to on Monday, July 17, 2023, in Kalari Community, of whom 55 were booked for normal surgery.
“The following day, Tuesday, we offered similar services in Gonge Maternity Hospital; we attended to over 800 persons, including Children, women, and all that made themselves nm available; we gave them medications and all the needed medical assistance to ensure that they live a healthy life. Some were also booked for surgery there as well”, he said.
Professor Askira, who is also the deputy Chairman of the medical and Dantal Alumni of the hospital, said that the hospital’s 40-year anniversary from 1983 to today deserves celebration.
“There must be successes recorded to warrant this anniversary celebration. In order to contribute our own quota, we, the Doctors that are products of this university teaching hospital, that is, the medical and Dantal alumni, were given the responsibility of organising this medical and surgical outreach so that those who cannot afford their medical expenses can benefit from the gesture free of charge”, he said.
Professor Askira, who was speaking to Baushe Times in an interview yesterday, said, “Today we will start carrying out surgery on 22 patients, and tomorrow we will do the same on 27 others; that brings the number of patients to be operated upon to 49; those are those who will undergo general surgery.”
“Also, 18 eye patients were screened today and booked for surgery; out of the 18, somebody may not be able to come back; as such, we have placed 10 other eye patients on standby; we have their telephone numbers; if any of the 18 screened fail to show up, we will replace the slot with those on standby, so that is what we are trying to do today”, he explained.
Professor Bala Hassan Askira, who commended the traditional leaders of the communities and other Stakeholders for the support, said that the patients really tried in terms of compliance with the instructions given by the organisers of the free medical outreach.
“Their compliance with instructions is commendable; they exhibited maturity, and they were happy with the gesture”, he stated.
While expressing gratitude to Allah for granting them the opportunity to carry outM the medical outreach, Prof. Askira thanked the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, for finding them worthy of executing such humanitarian assistance.
He commended the beneficiaries for turning out to receive the medical assistance and for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.
“We are going to do the surgery today, and from all indications, we will have the needed support and cooperation from the patients, just like those who benefited from the free diagnosis and treatment”, he said.
He appealed to the screened patients to exercise a high sense of maturity and decorum while waiting for their turn during the surgery to enable them to benefit from the gesture.
Professor Askira appreciated the effort of members of his Alumni and all other health workers who are working tirelessly to ensure the success of the medical outreach, praying to God to reward them abundantly.
He called on the well-to-do in society, philanthropists, and donor agencies to emulate the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital by organising similar medical outreach to assist the vulnerable members of society.