How Dr. Abubakar Katagum fared 1 year after taking over as MD FMC Azare

By Mohammed Kaka

After leaving the National Hospital Abuja for FMC Azare in Bauchi state, Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum who took charge as Medical Director of the tertiary health institution one year ago has no doubt, made significant successes.

Speaking to our Corresspondent in an interview on Thursday, the MD appreciated God for giving him the opportunity to head the federal health institution in Azare, Bauchi state.

Dr Katagum who assumed office late August last year said despite encountering a lot of challenges at the initial stage, however expressed gratitude that with prayers and cooperation from the staff and the host Community, a lot of challenges have been addressed.

“There are lots of progress made. The first thing I did when I came on board is to try and get a waiver for recruiting staff for the hospital and we got approval for recruitment of about three hundred staff with particular emphasis on clinical staff and few others on non clinical staff”, he said.

The MD who said apart from the successful recruitment of the 300 staff in the year 2022, effective supervision and monitoring of Wards and Clinics on neatness and staff promptness to duty has been a constant routine.

According to him, since coming on board, he has worked tirelessly to ensure industrial harmony in the Hospital with no strike recorded.

Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum while noting that Staff pre-promotional exercise training has been introduced, added that, the hospital management under his care has facilitated the construction of Maternity Complex Phase II (O&G Theatre) and Labour Ward.

Other achievements made since assumption of office, the MD said include procurement of brand new Toyota Hilux as utility vehicle, enhancement of promotion placement and procurement of Medical Equipment through intervention funds.

He said under his Leadership, the hospital had procured Two (2) Electronic Motorized Patient Trolleys, ensured in-house repairs of Medical Equipment by Bio-Medical Unit and
Provision of alternative power source (solar projects) at
Pathology Complex,
Female Medical Ward, Paediatric Complex as well as Trauma Complex A&E/ICU.

Dr Katagum further explained that the hospital has over the period under review, procured the State of the art Dental Chairs and equipment, construction of Speciality Clinics, internal road and walkways are currently ongoing to link from Trauma complex,are on going projects.

He added that installation of 300 KVA Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) for X- Ray Machines at Radiology Department, provision and installation of Solar Street Lights to Dr Umar Faruq Guest House and Pathology Complex Parking Area as well as
Successful Renovation of Dr. Umar Faruq Guest House are also some of the successes recorded so far.

The MD further explained that the successful Renovation of Old Transit Camp (Doctors Quarters), procurement of Y A G Laser Machine and ARGON Laser Machine at Ophthalmology Complex also made the list of his achievements.

Dr Katagum stressed that procurement of Auto Refractor Meter Machine at Ophthalmology Complex, provision of Noncontact Tonometer Machine at Ophthalmology Complex, procurement of the State of Art Incubator at Neonatal Intensive care unit, procurement of Paediatric Treadmill at Physiotherapy Department including the procurement of Multi Gymnasium at Physiotherapy Department were made possible within one year.

He went on to indicate that procurement of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve (TENS) Machine at Physiotherapy Department, Connecting The Hospital Services to Electronic Medical Record (EMR), initiating process of Upgrading of the Centre from FMC to Federal Teaching Hospital, introduction of ND/HND Nursing at Adamu Adamu College of Nursing FMC Azare, Direct Opening of U-turn along high way facing the Main Gate of the Centre ( to prevent accident)
In-House Training for Health Attendant for Upgrade to Higher Health Attendant were also some of his brain work. These are just few of the numerous achievements within his first year in office. A lot of human and infrastructural projects are still on going.