Following devastation caused by Boko Haram insugents leading many fatal casualties of civilians and security personnel in affected states of North East, a Bill seeking to establish National Orthopedic Hospital in Azare, the headquarters of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State has passed Second Reading in National Assembly.
The hospital when established would complement that of the National Orthopedic Hospital, which is the only federal health institution vested with treatment of all kinds of fractures in the North.
Member representing Hawul/Askira Uba Federal Constituency in Borno, Rep. Haruna Mshelia, sponsored the Bill.
The house considered the Bill to amend the Orthopedic Hospital Management Board Act 2004, to provide for the establishment of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Azare.
Moving his motion, Mshelia who is the Chairman House Committee on Covid -19 said, “we are all aware for the last 11 years in the North East, we have been having violent issues perpetrated by terrorists/ insurgents which led to so many broken bones and injuries, unfortunately, the only closest existing and functional Orthopedic Hospital is located in Kano which is about 500kms drive from the hotbed of the insurgency.
” This has forced many people/victims to move far away to access these services .
“Azare, which is the headquarters of Hawul Local Government, is centrally located in the North East zone, where if you move 150kms in all directions, you will reach all the other five states in the zone.
“Your Excellency, Hawul Local Government has another General Hospital just 12kms in Marama that provide general Health Services. Azare has a 125 -beded Hospital which can easily be converted to the Orthopedic Hospital with large land mass for expansion and quarters for Staff.
“If this Bill is approved, the services would be provided not only to the people in the North East, but to other people in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameron and Niger.
“We are giant of Africa and people living in other African countries look up to us, so I urged my respectful colleagues to support this Bill which will serve humanity, and not only the people of Borno state alone. I so move Mr Speaker,” Mshelia appealed.
After a thorough debate by the sponsor and other members of the House of Representatives, the Bill passed a second reading.
Reacting to development, many citizens of Borno and others states affected by insurgency lauded the development and urged for speedy passage of bill which they described as timely.
