BY: ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, JUNE 05/ 11:47PM
Borno State’s 400-bed Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital is set to begin operations in 60 days, a move expected to ease pressure on mothers, children, and other vulnerable residents who currently travel long distances for specialist care.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum inspected the multi-billion naira facility on Friday and confirmed over 90% of construction is complete.
According to him, all medical equipment has been procured and delivered.
About 350 health workers have also been approved for employment.
For women and children, the impact is direct.
The teaching hospital will serve as a referral center for complicated deliveries, maternal emergencies, neonatal care, and pediatric illnesses.
With UMTH Maiduguri often overwhelmed, the new facility means shorter wait times and reduced referrals to facilities outside the state.
'Business as usual will not be feasible.
'The cardinal objective is to bring succor to the people, particularly the less privileged,' the governor said.
He noted the hospital will not operate like a private hospital, but will charge a minimum threshold to ensure sustainability and keep services running for those who need them most.
The hospital’s full automation of billing and management systems is also expected to cut delays and improve transparency for patients, many of whom are low-income families and internally displaced persons.
Gov. Zulum said the facility will not only serve Borno residents but also patients from neighboring countries, positioning Maiduguri as a regional healthcare hub.
In the same inspection, the governor ordered completion of the 300-bed State Orthopaedic Hospital along Dikwa Road within four months.
That facility will expand access to trauma care and treatment for children and adults with disabilities and bone injuries - another critical need for vulnerable groups affected by years of conflict.
With both hospitals coming online, healthcare workers say women in labor, malnourished children, and victims of accidents will have faster access to life-saving treatment without leaving Maiduguri.