The Nigerian Army in collaboration with the German government has upgraded the Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Medical Centre to a full pledged hospital, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The project was undertaken through the Equipment Aid Programme for Foreign Armed Forces and Related Assignment of the German Armed Forces.NAN also reports that the German government donated two mobile trauma cares that could be deployed to theatres of operation to render emergency services to wounded soldiers.
The Minister Of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said at the handling over of the remodelled hospital on Thursday in Jaji, Kaduna state, that it was an important milestone not only for the peace centre and Jaji community, but the entire armed forces particularly troops engaged in operations in various theatres.
He minister disclosed that the two mobile trauma care units are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment such as ultra sonogram, operating table, anesthetic machine, sterilizer and defibrillator.Dan-Ali, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, added that the trauma care unit can be used as a first aid container in various medical scenarious or for further surgical capacities.
He said that the first trauma care unit is due for deployment at the operation theatre while the second will be delivered as soon as the ongoing training for operators is concluded.
“The medical field hospital is equipped with an operating thaetre, an intensive care unit with full oxygen support 24 hours a day, medical triage, mobile dental station, mobile x-ray station, pharmacy, ward, gynecology unit, sterilisation unit, high class laboratory, internal machine and all life saving capacities.”
“The mobile medical care unit field hospital is fully mobile with 5 x 40 ton Mercedes Benz trucks and 5 ton forklift which delivers power from solar panels and generators.“In addition the mobile medical care unit is fully equipped with all medical instruments, excluding narcotics and drugs.”
The German Training Advisory Group has trained up to 200 Nigerian medical personnel in the three services to support this project in mission areas ” he said.uWhile pointing out that the upgrade is a product of bilateral agreement between the German government supervised by the Nigerian Armed Forces, the minister said equipment provided under the agreement are essentially to be used in the context of internal security, crisis management and national defence.Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai said the upgrade of the medical centre was in pursuance of the current realities in line with international standard to match the increased demand for medical services by the armed forces.Buratai, who was represented by the Commandant Infantry Corps Center, Maj.- Gen Stevenson Olabanji, disclosed that the German government through the German Technical Advisory Group (GTAG) has been of great assistance to the Nigerian Army.
“The center has benefited from three major projects under the agreement including the medic center, the mobile medical care unit and the mobile trauma care unit.”On his part, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernard Schlagheck said there have been intense German/Nigerian relationship in defence methods since Nigeria’s independence, especially in aid to operations in the North East.Schlagheck described the collaboration between the two countries as a genuine manifestation of the close relations between the government and Armed Forces of Nigeria and Germany which provides a sound basis for tomorrow.(NAN)
