By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) will reopen for basic services on Monday, two weeks after terrible flooding happened in northeastern Borno State.
Chief Medical Director Ahmad Ahidjo said that the facility sustained significant water damage, stoping operations. However, Ahidjo stated: “We have cleaned up the water at the hospital and basic services will resume. We have fumigated the facility and are now assessing the extent of damage to medical equipment.”
UMTH will reopen its Accident and Emergency Unit, Trauma Centre, and clinics. The hospital requires urgent support to regain optimal capacity.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum described the flood damage as “beyond human imagination.” He pledged assistance, acknowledging UMTH’s advanced medical diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
The severe flooding, triggered by Alau Dam’s collapse, killed over 30 people and displaced 400,000 in Maiduguri. Nationally, over one million people have been affected.
Rescue operations continued 13 days later, with parts of the city returning to normal as waters receded.
Ahidjo described the flooding as “disastrous” and the loss as “enormous.” He noted: “Virtually everything that we have on the ground floor is affected.”
Laboratories, diagnostics centers, and cancer centers will reopen depending on repair progress.
Chairman Amos Magaji vowed to move a motion for urgent intervention in UMTH. The hospital suffered damage to multimillion-dollar equipment, including:Two Elekta Linear Accelerators, Two Brachytherapy machines, A Canon Large Bore CT Simulator.
Governor Zulum emphasized the state government’s willingness to assist UMTH.
