Army reference hospitals’ll be made on par with teaching hospitals - COAS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says his administration has plans to intervene in the Army Reference Hospitals in Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja to make them on par with teaching hospitals.

Lagbaja said this on Tuesday while speaking to newsmen after inaugurating an upgraded radio-diagnostic centre and the installation of a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (44 NARHK).

He added that the projects were a testament to the Nigerian Army's (NA) higher command’s drive to provide the best medical care to the soldiers and their families.

Beyond upgrading the reference hospitals, Lagbaja said they were also carrying out interventions at brigade medical centres, which were the next level of medical support for soldiers.

In immediate terms, he said, the NA was looking into brigade medical centres that were not easily accessible.

Lagbaja said that already, he had intervened in Makurdi and is currently doing so in Lokoja, Ikeja, and Yola, saying, ”From there, we will move to other parts of the country.”

Speaking further, the COAS said they were on interventions towards the upgrade and construction of more accommodation for personnel.

He stressed that the sound administration mantra of his command philosophy was hinged on the provision of essential welfare support to troops, especially those deployed to theatres of operations across the country.

Lagbaja equally said it was hinged on the welfare of the families of the troops in barracks and cantonments across the country.

He stressed that his desire was to ensure that soldiers leaving outside the barracks were entitled to accommodation before the end of the year, especially in highly populated centres like Abuja.

“We are also looking into water, power supply, good roads, and other essential welfare support for our personnel.

”All this is designed to motivate them to give their best in the service of the nation in combating threats to security,” he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, the acting Commander, Army Medical Corps, Brig.-Gen. Samson Okoigi, said 44 NARHK stood as a beacon of excellence, one of the three tertiary hospitals and the flagship medical facility of the NA.

Entrusted with the sacred responsibility of safeguarding the health and well-being of the nation’s brave soldiers.

He said they serve as the base hospital for Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North-East and other critical military operations across the northern regions.

Okoigi said that the hospitals’ capabilities extend far beyond routine medical care, encompassing specialised surgeries and diagnostic investigations, reflecting their dedication to upholding the highest standards of care.

Okoigi stressed that, with state-of-the-art equipment, including a 0.35 Tesla MRI machine and a recently procured MRI machine.

Others include a 16-slice CT scan, fluoroscopy, mammography, digital X-ray (DR), and ultrasound machines, the facility is poised to revolutionise medical imaging and diagnosis within the Armed force and the broader community.

“It is worth noting that the 1.5 Tesla MRI machine is the only functional unit in the entire Kaduna metropolis and the Nigerian Army as at today.

”Though in the next few weeks, we will be having another one operational at ACNHA, he said.

Speaking further, the acting corps commander said the 44 NARHK Radiodiagnostic Centre serves as a training hub, accepting residency postings from family medicine, orthopaedic surgery, general surgery and hosting students for internship training.

He equally said they were committed to fostering collaborations with institutions like ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria to facilitate the posting of radiology residents.

This is to enhance their manpower capabilities and elevate the centre’s capacity to deliver exceptional diagnostic services.

“The challenge of inadequate manpower to man, this equipment cannot be overemphasised.

”We are working in collaboration with sister training institutions like the ABU Teaching Hospital and Kaduna State University Teaching Hospital to mitigate this challenge as much as possible, he added.

Also, the Chief Medical Director of 44 NARHK, Col. Stephen Onuchukwu, in his remarks, appreciated the Army Chief for his support and leadership roles.

He reiterated their commitment to discharging their duties professionally.

Supreme News reports that the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), retired Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, in company with Lagbaja, inaugurated a renovated dining hall and a 1.8-kilometre road at the Command Secondary School, Kaduna.

Amao, who sponsored the project, was a former student of the school in the Class of 1982.