By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Following the devastation posed by members of dreaded Boko Haram sect which left many people including security operatives sustained various degrees of fractures in the North East, a Bill seeking to establish National Orthopedic Hospital which is to be sited in Azare, the Headquarters of Hawul LGA of Borno State passed a second reading at the floor of the National Assembly.
The Hospital when established would complement that of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Kano state, which is the only federal health institution vested with treatment of all kinds of fractures in the North.
Member representing Hawul/Askira Uba federal constituency in Borno state, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, yesterday sponsored the Bill at the floor of the lower chamber which was monitored from National Assembly Television by our Correspondent in Maiduguri.
The House therefore, considered the Bill to amend the Orthopedic Hospital Management Board Act 2004, to provide for the establishment of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Azare.
Moving his motion, Dr Mshelia who is the Chairman House Committee on Covid -19 said, “we are all aware for the last 11 years in the North East, we have been having violent issues perpetrated by terrorists/ insurgents which led to so many broken bones and injuries, unfortunately, the only closest existing and functional Orthopedic Hospital is located in Kano which is about 500kms drive from the hotbed of the insurgency.
“This has forced many people/victims to move far away to access these services Azare, which is the Council Headquarter of Hawul Local Government, is centrally located in the North East zone, where if you move 150kms in all directions, you will reach all the other five states in the zone”.
“Your Excellency, Hawul Local Government has another General Hospital just 12kms in Marama that provide general Health Services. Azare has a 125 -beded Hospital which can easily be converted to the Orthopedic Hospital with large land mass for expansion, Quarters for Staff”.
“If this Bill is approved, the services would be provided not only to the people in the North East, but to other people in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameron and Niger”.
“We are giant of Africa and people living in other African countries look up to us, so I urged my respectful colleagues to support this Bill which will serve humanity, and not only the people of Borno state alone. I so move Mr Speaker.” Dr Mshelia said.
After a thorough debate by the sponsor and other members of the House of Representatives, the Bill passed a Second Reading.