The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai on Wednesday March 25, 2020 inaugurated the newly built Army Command and NAOWA Specialist hospital in Abuja after an official tour of the medical facility.
This is just as the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Major General Ikechukwu Okeke (retired) disclosed that the hospital is currently liaising with NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control), to ensure that necessary guidelines in the prevention and care of COVID19 are followed in the facility.
Okeke said, “It is not a coincidence that this facility is coming on stream at this time when the Corona virus disease is ravaging the whole world.
“Since we find ourselves in this situation, more effort will be made to put the hospital in a good position to be part of the national response plan.
“Health education and necessary precautionary measures will be put in place to protect our staff and patients.
“The hospital shall liaise with NCDC to ensure that necessary guidelines in the prevention and care of COVID19 are followed.”
Welcoming the COAS to the inauguration tour, the CMD said, “Today marks the fulfilment of a vision which the National President of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Umma-Kalsum Tukur Buratai conceived and initiated in 2017 and we are witnessing its actualization.
“Army Command and NAOWA Hospital was started as part of NAOWA’s objective to provide projects that will touch humanity. The Nigerian Army keyed into the vision and provided support in the completion and equipping of the project as a collaborative project between the NA and NAOWA, hence the name was changed from NAOWA Specialist Hospital to the Army Command and NAOWA Hospital
“The hospital is expected to fill the gaps and complement other Military health care facilities in the nation’s capital and beyond, it is open to civilian clients that may wish to access care with us.
“The mission statement is “to extend a compassionate hand of care to our clients by meeting their healthcare needs in a serene environment that promotes peace of mind and recovery, using high quality, affordable and innovative clinical practice”.
“Our Core Values are: we will ensure that our patients come first and will work to be trusted by them. We will treat every client with dignity and respect. Our client should expect to meet polite, friendly and helpful staff. We will give our clients timely access to healthcare.
“NAOWA Specialist Hospital is designed as a Modular General Hospital with almost all the departments located within the enclosed blocks.
This ensures that most services can be obtained without stepping out of the buildings.
“The main hospital building consists of 2 blocks of one-storey building. It has provision for a reception, general outpatient, children’s clinic, pharmacy and radiology on the ground floor of Block A.
The upper floor’ has the administrative block as well as general and private wards. Each block is divided into two wings by a wide corridor. There are staircases, ramp and a lift.
“Block B has the accident and Emergency, Operating Theatre, Maternity and Antenatal clinic on the ground floor.
“The upper floor has the children wards and other facilities. Other structures in the premises are the kitchen, laundry, generator house and water plant as well as the public health and eye clinics in a separate building.
“Army Command and NAOWA hospital shall perform clinical activities expected of a Secondary Level hospital, but Capable of providing some tertiary care in some areas of special interest.
“These shall develop as the hospital progresses but may include Special Care babies’ management, Intensive Care management and radio-diagnostic services.
“It is expected that the following clinical activities shall be routinely available: General Outpatient Consultations; Specialist Clinics pediatrics, dental, infernal medicine, surgery, Eye etc. Others are Ante-natal, post-natal and obstetrics and gynecology services; In-patient admissions for adults and children; Laboratory Service capable of hematology, clinical chemistry and microbiology
Furthermore are Radiology with digital X-ray, ultrasonography, and mammography; Preventive Health Activities, immunization, health education; Accident and Emergency care with Mortuary Services to be added soon.
There are well-equipped operating Theatre; Executive Health Assessment and Life-style medicine Clinics; Cancer Screening Services; Electronic Medical Recording and hospital management while telemedicine is in view.
Okeke disclosed that in line with the expected high Standard of care, most of the equipment was purchased in USA pointing out that, “We are working out a supplier-maintenance policy that will ensure that the equipment do not get spoilt and abandoned.
“Some of the services required in cleaning and maintenance of the hospital will be outsourced. The staff shall be trained on each equipment and should be proficient in their use.
“As a secondary facility, it is expected that military personnel would maintain their primary NHIS healthcare facilities and come to this place on referral except on emergency.
“Civilian clients who wish to use the hospital as their corporate or individual care provider are also welcome”.
Among officials of the hospital on ground to conduct the COAS on tour of the facility was Brig- Gen (Mrs.) SW Aliu (rtd) who was head of the supervising team for the construction of the hospital. She also doubles as the Director of Administration.
Principal Staff Officers of Army headquarters who accompanied the COAS on the facility tour and inauguration include the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt. Gen. LO Adeosun, the Chief of Logistics, Major General Unuigbe, Chief of Administration, Major General MS Yusuf, Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Major General Fidelis Azinta, Chief of Accounts and Budget, Major General Bakare, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General US Mohammed, Director of Audit, Major General Adesope, Military Secretary, Army, Major General Ochigbano and Acting Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, Brig-General H Ahmed.