The Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Prof. Ahmed Ahijo, has expressed concerns about the potential for disease outbreaks following recent flooding in Borno State.
The flood, which began on Tuesday, displaced thousands of residents in the Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin areas of Maiduguri.
In an interview with Aljazeera, on Friday, Prof. Ahijo revealed that several costly cancer treatment machines at the hospital, which has a capacity of 1,305 beds, were submerged by the floodwaters.
He further stated that the hospital has temporarily stopped admitting patients to its wards due to the risk of contamination, as sewage has mixed with the floodwater, raising concerns about infection.
He said, “The whole of the ground floor of the hospital and the centres – we have 14 specialised centres in the hospital – are all flooded, and some of the machines there are very expensive.
“We know in the medical field that cancer machines are extremely expensive. Radiology departments, laboratories, and kidney centre machines are very expensive and all these machines are submerged in the water.”
Ahijo also highlighted additional challenges faced by the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, noting that emergency care for patients has been severely impacted by the flooding of the hospital’s oxygen plant. This has further complicated the hospital’s ability to provide critical services in the aftermath of the flood.
