Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the sum of N50 million research grant for University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Kidney Centre.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
According to Ahidjo, the grant is aimed at assisting the hospital in conducting research in kidney diseases which, he said, is prevalent in the state.
“Recently, His Excellency, the Governor of Borno approved a research grant of N50 million for our kidney centre so that we can conduct research in kidney diseases that are prevalent in this society.
“Research is part of our work here and we are conducting it. Cancer research is also our priority,” he said.
The CMD, who urged other organisations and kind-hearted individuals to emulate the state government’s kind gesture, said that the hospital’s mandate included provision of clinical services as well as training and research that would help in containing prevalent diseases.
“We are professionals in the academic field. So, the clinical services, training and research are incorporated in every aspect of the hospital’s operations,” he said.
Ahidjo assured that the hospital would continue to remain committed to ensuring that patients in the North-East zone got best services.
Meanwhile, a ministerial committee, under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Mamuda Mamman, which concluded an on-the-spot assessment of projects and special interventions in the hospital, has expressed satisfaction which what was on ground.
“From what we have seen, I can testify that UMTH is really a centre of excellence.
“I can assure you that if we maintain this trend, medical tourism in Nigeria will be a thing of the past,” Mamman said. (NAN)
