Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, says virtually all federal hospital projects to be executed are independently determined by boards and management of each facility, not the ministry of health or Federal Government.

In a press release signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Olujimi Oyetomi and made available to UGAMATV the minister spoke during the inauguration of two key projects executed by the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri recently.

“Such projects are chosen by boards and management, not the Federal Government or Federal Ministry of Health. They only report to us and we get the projects and programmes approved for them in their budgets for onward execution,” he said.

The commissioned projects included a fully built and furnished building for medical rehabilitation which also houses the Psychogeriatrics Unit of the Clinical Psychology Department as well as a fully built and furnished Electro-diagnostic Centre.

While being taken on a tour of the newly commissioned 2020 capital projects of the hospital by FNPHM Medical Director, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Wakama, the team expressed satisfaction at the quality of the facilities.

Ehanire was accompanied by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Director Hospital Services in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi; Director in charge of Teaching Hospitals in the Ministry, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe; Senior Technical Assistant to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu and some members of the Borno State Executive Council.

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The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri was established by the government to cover the North East Zone of Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe States. It serves a region with a population of over 25 Million people; prevents and treats mental disorders including drug abuse and rehabilitation of mentally ill persons.

Parts of its mandate include research and training in the field of Mental Health and Neuroscience – Clinical depression, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.