COVID-19: Army renovates medical facilities in Kano, provides boreholes

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, in collaboration with the Depot, Nigerian Army, Zaria, has renovated the maternity ward of the General Hospital, Tudun Wada, in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State. The army also equipped the hospital with new equipment.

In addition, the army drilled two boreholes in Fayinbo and Sangaya Dafaduka communities, Goguwa Local Government. It distributed 400 bags of grains, comprising  200 bags of millet and 200 bags maize, as palliatives to vulnerable persons in the village to reduce their sufferings in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The gesture followed the completion of a joint military exercise, code-named “Exercise Kun Gama,” embarked up on by cadets of the NDA and recruits of Depot, which took place in the Falgore Forest, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, reiterated the determination of the Nigerian Army to sustain its tempo of corporate social responsibility, in line with the prevailing democratic dispensation.

Represented by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Kaduna, Major-General Usman Mohammed, Burutai said the army has a role to play in contributing to better health care of people in need. He added that the rehabilitation of the maternity ward and installation of state-of-the-art facilities would go a long way to reduce maternal mortality rate in the area.

He said the Nigerian Army was poised to exploit the existing cordial relationship  between the military and the state government, especially at this time when the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the entire world.

The COAS said the palliatives were to cushion the hardship of the villagers at this time when the pandemic is taking a toll on the people of the country. He reiterated that the Nigerian Army was committed to ensuring discipline and professionalism among its personnel.

Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, commended the army for rehabilitating the medical facility and urged it to carry out periodic maintenance to avoid dilapidation. Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, he described the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the state government as cordial, just as he pledged the continuous assistance of the state government to the military and other security agencies.