UNIMAID TEACHING HOSPITAL STEPS UP INFRASTRUTURE — IN THE MIDST OF WAR

It took me seven years to make my trip to Maiduguri, Borno state. The idea was first mooted sometime in 2012. This thought of a “working visit” to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) came after a weekly column I wrote in THISDAY.

I had written on the rare feat of intervention radiological procedures (as alternative to major surgeries) performed at UMTH and pioneered by an Interventional Radiologist at the Hospital, Dr Ahmed Ahidjo, the then Head of Radiology Department at the hospital. Thus the intention was to go to Maiduguri and witness the live procedures done.

Unfortunately the intended 2012 journey could not to be for many reasons; chiefly among these was the fact that no sooner that the arrangement for the visit was consummated that Bornu state was locked-down by the military authorities – end of preparation.