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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The proposed Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Billiri, has moved closer to commencing operations following the completion of a technical assessment by a Federal Ministry of Health committee, with officials expressing optimism over the facility’s readiness while stressing that the final decision rests with the Federal Government.
Speaking after inspecting the hospital, the leader of the assessment team said members had documented the facility’s strengths and areas requiring improvement before submitting a technical report to the Minister of State for Health for further review.
“We have gone round with the Acting Medical Director and made our observations. No conclusions have been reached and no commitments can be made for now,” the official said.
However, she described the project as impressive, commending stakeholders for initiating what she said would become a major referral centre serving Billiri, surrounding communities and Gombe State.
Kazaure reaffirmed the Federal Government’s readiness to take over the institution once due processes are completed, expressing confidence that the hospital would eventually become a fully functional federal orthopaedic centre.
The recently appointed Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Yakubu Bukar Mailafiya, thanked the Federal Ministry of Health delegation for the inspection, saying the hospital was established to provide specialised trauma and orthopaedic services for Nigerians in Gombe South Senatorial District and other parts of the country.
He assured the team that all observations made during the assessment would be addressed promptly to facilitate early commencement of services.
Mailafiya also acknowledged the support of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the state Ministry of Health and the lawmaker representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Ali Isa JC, whom he said had pledged additional infrastructure for the hospital.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the federal lawmaker, Dr. Yahaya Ambi Saleh, dismissed concerns over the take-off site’s accessibility, describing it as temporary.
He said the permanent site, already containing substantial infrastructure, had been agreed upon and would adequately serve Gombe State and the wider North-East once fully developed.
