By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Minister of Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has commissioned State-of-the-art Fertility Centre and Ensuite Maternity Complex executed by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) at the famous University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Borno State.

He also unveiled other projects worth billions of naira such as Solar-power for uninterrupted service delivery, surgical and diagnostic equipment, including ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection machine), incubators, oxygen concentrators, Spermifuge, laboratory equipment, furniture and support infrastructure to save lives.

The Minister who was in company of Governor Babagana Zulum, the Managing Director/CEO of the Commissioned, Alhaji Goni Alkali among other stakeholders,
lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the North East Development Commission ( NEDC ) for successfully accomplishing the projects, which he said, it aligns with the broader North East Stabilization and Development Plan (NESDP) and the 25-year Borno State Development Master Plan, which provides a long-term framework for healthy living, social, infrastructural, and economic transformation.

The exercise which took place on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the state capital marks a significant milestone, as it is one of the very few fertility centres available in a public health facility in the North East region.

According to Ahmadu, “NEDC stepped in to fill a critical gap in reproductive health care accesses, as families previously had to travel to Lagos, Abuja, or abroad at great personal cost”.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to support Borno and other North Eastern states hitherto affected by over decade destruction of lives and property by Boko Haram crisis, noting that, “the Ministry of Regional Development (MRD) was established by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to coordinate and drive inclusive development across the six- geopolitical zones.

“Today’s handing over of completed projects by the NEDC is a testament to that vision. It aligns with the broader North East Stabilization and Development Plan (NESDP) and the 25-year Borno State Development Master Plan, which provides a long-term framework for healthy living, social, infrastructural, and economic transformation”. He said.

Governor Babagana Zulum praised NEDC management and staff for their development strides that have touched almost all sectors in the region, adding that, the Commission, since it’s establishment, was really complementing efforts of the present administration in strengthening sustainable development.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Commission, revealed that Human Capacity Investment, such as Pioneer health workers for the Fertility Centre had received intensive specialized training funded fully by the Commission to ensure skilled personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“This centre is ready to serve patients without delay immediately, it is also affordable, as high-quality assisted reproductive services would now be available locally, and no more expensive travel outside the region.

“It will also restores hope and dignity to families struggling with infertility”. He explained.

Also in his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the UMTH, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo thanked the Federal Government and the NEDC for Health Interventions at the institution.

Ahidjo said, prior to these projects, NEDC had provided life-saving medical equipment and rehabilitation of critical health infrastructures too numerous to mention, in addition to the provision of diagnostic equipment including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT scans, digital X-ray, mammography and dialysis machines among other interventions.