By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Federal government has approved the establishment of a tertiary military hospital in Sokoto that will serve as centre of excellence for diseases of military importance.
A statement issued by Tambuwal’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam Tuesday said the first of its kind in the country, the hospital would also serve as a research centre with a United Nations’-grade international public health laboratory.
According to the statement, the government had already provided space at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for temporary use pending the construction of its permanent site.
Tambuwal commended the Nigerian Army for choosing Sokoto as most preferred among other states that applied for the right to host the facility.
“First of all, I want to inform the people of Sokoto state that our efforts in attracting important projects from within and outside the country has continued to yield positive results. This hospital is of great importance not just to the military but to our people as a whole. Diseases of military importance are areas of concern globally because of the large population of people that can be infected after outbreaks.
“Such diseases are subject of importance in efforts to counter bioterrorism and bio-weapons by aggressor nations. These infectious diseases include among others dengue fever, ebola, lassa fever, anthrax among others. Having a centre in Sokoto dedicated to countering these likely outbreaks is a welcome development. We will support the hospital with facilities and logistics to properly take off until it is fully on its feet,” he added.
The statement said dispelled the notion that the state government had permanently handed over the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital to the military.
“We just sent a bill to the state House of Assembly to establish the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital as property of the state government. Its position has not changed. The military will use the facility pending when all facilities for the newly-established Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Sokoto are fully ready,” the Governor added.
Follow Us On WhatsApp
