— -Seeks FG urgent intervention

By Henry Ojelu

Stakeholders have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, calling for urgent intervention of the federal government to rehabilitate, expand and equip the facility to better serve members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Speaking on the state of the hospital, Dr. Alhaji Hassan Mustapha of the Northern Progressives Forum said the facility, established in 1999, has become overstretched and requires immediate government attention.

According to him, the 200-bed hospital, which has a staff strength of 162 personnel drawn from public-private partnership arrangements involving the Ministry of Defence and the three armed services, is in dire need of rehabilitation, reconstruction, expansion and the provision of modern medical equipment.

Mustapha noted that the call for intervention has become more urgent given the rising number of military personnel injured in the course of counter-insurgency, anti-banditry and anti-terrorism operations across the country.

He cited available records showing that about 7,403 soldiers have been wounded since 2018 in the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, while several thousands more have suffered life-altering injuries, including amputations and spinal cord damage.

“Our troops continue to make enormous sacrifices in defence of the nation. The country owes them quality healthcare and rehabilitation services. Reports indicate that the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, is struggling with inadequate infrastructure and equipment needed to meet growing demands,” Mustapha said.

While commending President Bola Tinubu’s administration for efforts to improve funding for the defence sector, he stressed the need to ensure that allocations are promptly released and effectively directed to critical areas affecting the welfare of military personnel.

Mustapha added that upgrading the hospital would significantly improve healthcare delivery to wounded soldiers and boost the morale of troops engaged in various security operations across the country.

Also speaking, Kayode Oshinowo of Healthwise International described the state of the facility as a major concern, noting that military healthcare infrastructure remains a critical component of national security.

Oshinowo said countries with strong military institutions invest heavily in healthcare facilities for their armed forces, ensuring that injured personnel receive world-class treatment and rehabilitation.

“In many advanced nations, military hospitals rank among the best medical centres. Nigeria should not be different. Our servicemen and women deserve access to modern healthcare facilities that can adequately cater to their needs after making sacrifices for the nation,” he said.

He noted that despite substantial budgetary allocations to the defence sector over the years, concerns persist over implementation and the equitable distribution of resources across defence institutions.

Oshinowo called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Defence and the National Assembly to prioritise the release of funds for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and equipping of the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano.

According to him, strengthening the hospital’s capacity would not only improve medical outcomes for injured personnel but also enhance operational readiness and confidence among troops.