From Dauda  Pam Maiduguri

Borno State Government has set up a technical committee for the establishment of a Medical College and Teaching Hospital for the Borno State University,to be headed by Prof. Othman Kyari.

This was disclosed by Governor Babagana Zulum at a brief ceremony to inaugurate the committee at the Government House council to develop a blueprint for the establishment of a medical college.

He gave the Committee three months to submit it’s recommendation and to work in collaboration with stakeholders in the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the National Universities Commission.

According to him,with a medical college in the State University, funds hitherto used in sponsoring citizens for medical courses abroad would remain in Borno and help to improve the university and other aspects of education.

He said the committee’s terms of reference included examining and advising government on the feasibility of establishing Borno State College of Medicine and Borno State University Teaching Hospital.

The team,he said,was expected to produce a roadmap for speedy establishment of the Borno State College of Medicine and Borno State University Teaching Hospital, including appropriate timelines for the commencement of the two institutions within the  terms of reference.

“The Committee is also expected to produce relevant technical documents, including appropriate designs, and likely cost implications for the two projects.

“It will identify and advise government on appropriate sites for the two projects, bearing in mind the post COVID-19 challenges.

“It will advise on the best strategies of getting qualified academic staff for all the departments in the Borno State College of Medicine, as well as the minimum staff requirement for smooth take-off of the Borno State University Teaching Hospital.

“To advise on appropriate state-of-the-art equipment required for the two projects.

“To consider and advise on the possibility of working out strong collaboration with University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and University of Maiduguri toward the success of the two projects.

“To consider and advise on the possibility of securing support nationally and internationally toward the realisation of the projects.

“To liaise with relevant regulatory bodies, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and National University Commission (NUC) to facilitate the smooth and timely takeoff of the two projects.

ROLAC, British Council donates to Hope Center

From Gyang Pam, Yola

An organization calling itself Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC), in conjunction with the British Council on Thursday donated assorted protective equipment to Hope Center in Numan.

This according to the donors should enhance the safety of frontline health workers and patients in the fight against Covid-19.

Presenting the materials to the Executive Secretary Primary Health Care Numan, the State Project coordinator of ROLAC. Hafsat Abdullahi disclosed that the gesture was imperative in view of the need to protect frontline health workers at the centre.

Hafsat noted that the daily exposure of the health workers to Covid-19 made her organization deeming it fit to protect this project adding that it has therefore become sacrosanct.

According to the Executive Secretary, the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state showed that the community transmission of the disease and of course which prompted ROLAC to take positive steps to protect both health workers and the patients.

She noted that the Hope Center in Numan has become vital due to its strategic position as the first replica in the whole of the North East region.

Hafsat Abdullahi also appealed to parents not to shy away in reporting rape incidents to the centre since hope Centre gives Hope to rape survivors without going through traumatizing experience they could get while going to the security agencies.

The centre she says gives first class attention to survivors and the trauma of survivors are adequately managed.

Hope Center she assured will provide more drugs, equipment and training to staff of the health centre by making it functions more robursty.

In his comment Numan Local Government Council Chairman, Honourable Innocent Kolo commended ROLAC for the gesture which he says will go a long way in saving lives.

The chairman was however represented by the councils secretary Nagapiya Foredan.

Items donated include 25 packs of hand gloves, 20 packs of (3ply) face masks, two packs of (N95) face masks, 45 units of hand sanitizers, 25 units of (Jik) disinfectants and 10 units of nylon aprons.