Glamour, excitement trails Novelty football match as Federal Medical Center Azare marks 20th anniversary

By Mohammed Kaka Misau

As the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Azare marks its 20 years of establishment amidst Commissioning of projects executed by the current Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Bichi, one other exciting Programme was a novelty football match within the staff of the hospital.

Speaking during a friendly football match on Tuesday, the CMD said it was a great pleasure and that he was honored and fulfilled that people are celebrating with the hospital, identifying with them over the 20th existence of the hospital in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi state.

The CMD who was speaking to our Corresspondent in an interview at the venue of the match within the hospital premises, said that the occasion was also meant to commission projects executed during his leadership as he edges towards the end of his tenure.

He expressed delight and fulfilment over the crowd that besieged the venue of the match to cheer and celebrate with the management of the hospital on the anniversary which he said was very encouraging.

The CMD also sought for continued cooperation and support he enjoyed from the staff, the community, the head of departments of the hospital to be sustained.

“I want this cooperation, deligence and dedication to work to continue. I am happy that we have built a community and we have built a system our prayers is for the system to continue and also for those coming behind us to build on it”, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Lamaran Zailani, the head of accounts of the hospital described the event as a happy moment for the entire staff of the hospital.

“It’s indeed a happy moment for us, the 20th anniversary has come with a lot of joy and pleasure for us, the staff and the hospital community at large, you can see the management staff, that’s the top management Committee members and Senior Management staff, that’s heads of departments, playing football together, that shows cordial relationship, peaceful and harmonious working relationship that we have in the hospital and we are all happy to witness this day”, he added.

On his part, Mohammed Kari, the Head of administration, said the day was dedicated for playing a friendly match between members of the top management Committee and MAC (Medical Advisory Committee) members.

“It is a friendly match as I have said, it is a match meant to foster relationship, to remember our old staminas in those yester years, to also remember that we used to be footballers and we believe we could still be, that is just the essence of the match and above all, the match is in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of federal medical center Azare”, Kari explained.

He described the relationship between the hospital and the host communities as a very good one, adding that Azare and its environ is peaceful and that it is filled with hospitable and friendly people.

“We appreciate all that they have been doing and we hope and pray that they will continue to show that kind of solidarity to us, we are really grateful to them”, he said.

Baring his mind, Mohammed Saleh Mumbana of clinical services directorate of the hospital said the tournament was organized in honor of the CMD who is about to retire from service.

“Right now, we are at the tornament of the MD’s cup which is part of the 20th anniversary of federal medical center Azare which is organized in honor of the medical Director who is very soon, may be in the next one or two weeks, he is vacating his office at the end of his tenure of two terms, that is eight years”, Mumbana explained.

He described the tournament as first of its kind in the history of the hospital, adding that the match has given them the opportunity to interact with one another irrespective of their positions or level as a symbol of togetherness.

“This is an opportunity for us to interact together within the center, we did not allow outsiders, it was just an organization of departments, we were able to cut across ten departments and we played normal football with the eight departments”, he said.

According to him, the novelty Match is organised for the management team and the heads of departments, adding that it was a very exciting moment.

“We are happy we started very well and we are on course and we have not had any problem whatsoever, it has been hitch-free and we are happy to have this kind of tournament and we hope to have it in the near future”, Mumbana further said. .

He added: “this is actually a preamble of what we are supposed to do within the 20th anniversary. So as far as I am concerned, everything is going fine, we have to appreciate the medical Director, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Bichi who organized this forum for us to interact and know the talent we have in the Center”.

“So, I think briefly, this is what actually happened and what is going on, we are now waiting for the final match between the admin directorate and the cleaners of the Center”, Mumbana pointed out.