The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria has commissioned its COVID-19 treatment centre that was set up in partnership with some donors.
The facility was built by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to handle patients with burnt injuries but was converted for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Speaking at the commissioning on Thursday, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the ABUTH, Professor Ahmed Hamidu, said the building was converted to a COVID-19 treatment centre with the consent of the NNPC.
Professor Hamidu said: “COVID-19 is still on the rise in Nigeria, so the centre would go a long way in assisting the treatment of patients.
“We admit patients that are in critical condition.
“ABUTH has specialists to handle such patients.
“Measures have been put in place to protect our staff.
“Both staff and outsiders must use face masks before they are allowed access into the hospital.
“We have taken proactive measures in order to protect our staff.
“We have a 48-bed apartment where our personnel who treat COVID-19 patients live.
“This is to avoid transmission to their families, among many other measures.”
A foundation, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, donated 100 beds worth N48.5 million to the centre as part of its contribution to the fight against the pandemic.
The money covers accessories attached to the beds, transportation and other logistics.
Speaking on behalf of the founder, the Chief of Staff of the foundation, AIG Chris Oke Ezike (rtd), said other health facilities across Nigeria have benefited from similar donations.
Ezike said 14 containers of drugs and other essentials ordered by the foundation were on their way to Nigeria, which would be distributed to 16 designated health facilities in Nigeria as another contribution of the foundation in tackling the novel disease.
The Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Kabir Bala, applauded those that partnered with the hospital to set up the centre, saying that the gesture should be the beginning of their mutual relationship.
