The Paediatric hospital of the international medical NGO, Medicin Sans Frontieres (MSF), in Gwange ward of Maiduguri metropolis, has treated 10,717 children patients of malaria in the first six months of this year.
Mr Abdulkareem Yakubu, the Borno Field Communication Officer of the MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, made this known in a statement on Saturday, in Maiduguri.
He stated that 6,090 of those treated in the hospital during the period under review were admitted through the In Patient Department (IPD).
Yakubu also announced the completion of new permanent facilities at the Gwange Hospital that would enhance provision of paediatric services in Maiduguri, particularly in Gwange ward, known as the most populated area of the state capital and host of the highest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Yakubu noted that “MSF’s Gwange Paediatric Hospital provides care for children aged between one month and 15 years, and the only free paediatric health centre in Maiduguri with an 80-bed capacity during off-peak malaria seasons.
“If required, the hospital’s capacity can be extended to 200, using tents during peak malaria seasons or in response to a measles outbreak.”
Yakubu quoted Daniel Teajedor, the MSF’s Construction Manager, as saying that the improved facilities in Gwange would further support communities in the area.
“MSF teams were forced to complete the new hospital in two phases within 12 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The first phase concluded the construction of an emergency room with a common triage area, in-patient department, intensive care unit, orange and yellow wards, and a pharmacy.
“The second phase included other facilities to accommodate orange and yellow patients plus support structures: a new milk room, a sterilisation unit, medical office and laboratory.
“A new dispensary, a tetanus room and two additional latrines, were also included in the second phase,” Yakubu stated.
(NAN)
