Insurgency: 7,403 Soldiers Undergoing Treatment, Says Nigerian Army

…As Senate Donates N10m For Medical Care

The Nigerian Army on Saturday said that about 7,403 wounded
soldiers in action (WIA) are currently undergoing medial treatment
at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (44NARHK).

The Acting Chief Medical Director of the 44NARHK, Colonel
Stephen Onuchukwu, disclosed this while briefing the Senate
delegation led by its President, Ahmad Lawan on challenges facing
the 600-bed army hospital.

This is just as the Senate donated N10million to some of the
wounded soldiers in action (WIA), undergoing treatment.

Onuchukwu said some of the wounded soldiers have been maimed for
life and required cutting-edge medical facilities to keep them
alive.

Onuchukwu who is an Orthopedic Consultant, specifically declared
that at 44 Army Reference Hospital alone, a total of 7,403 wounded
soldiers in action, have been received, treated and some undergoing
treatment.

“Since the war against insurgency, about 7,403 wounded in active
military personnel have been evacuated to this hospital for very
urgent medical attention.

“While some of such wounded personnel, got treated and
discharged with different forms of deformities, some are maimed for
life.

“Those in this category are the ones with spinal cord injury
being assisted with Urethral Implant for them to urinate.

“Some also have their legs and hands amputated as a result of
cancerous injuries sustained at the battlefronts.

“These are aside others, being rehabilitated from physical,
emotional and psychological injuries,” he said.

He said the hospital among others, has five suites of theatres,
8-bed Intensive care Unit, State of an art Radiology Department, an
Endoscopy Unit, etc.

He however said despite the increased capacity of the hospital,
some special procedures and treatments are still done abroad.

He, therefore, appealed to the National Assembly and by
extension, the Federal Government to assist the Hospital to attain
the status of UN Level 4 Hospital.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Lawan, assured that the
legislature would work with the executive in ensuring that the
armed forces is properly resourced and motivated.

He added that the N895 billion supplementary budget recently
forwarded to the National Assembly by the Presidency for the
purchase of military equipment and COVID-19 vaccines, would be
expeditiously considered and passed and that more funds would be
appropriated for the military in the 2022 budget.

“The country’s mounting security would expose the military
personnel to different forms of injuries, thus the need for more
medical facilities to cater for the needs of wounded soldiers.

“We can’t expect so much from you and give you little. That will
be unfair.

“Our armed forces deserve the support of all Nigerians. We have
to give them adequate resources to protect the country because
everything needs peace and security,” Lawan said.

The Senate delegation along with the Executive Governor of
Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the General Officer
Commanding 1st Mechanized Division, Major-General Ali Keffi, later
visited the Wounded in Action patients across the various
wards.

Other members of the Senate delegation are the Senate Leader,
Yahaya Abdullahi, Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Senate Leader,
Ajayi Boroffice, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi,
Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Ya’u and the Chairman, Senate
Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa.

…As Senate Donates N10m For Medical Care

The Nigerian Army on Saturday said that about 7,403 wounded
soldiers in action (WIA) are currently undergoing medial treatment
at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (44NARHK).

The Acting Chief Medical Director of the 44NARHK, Colonel
Stephen Onuchukwu, disclosed this while briefing the Senate
delegation led by its President, Ahmad Lawan on challenges facing
the 600-bed army hospital.

This is just as the Senate donated N10million to some of the
wounded soldiers in action (WIA), undergoing treatment.

Onuchukwu said some of the wounded soldiers have been maimed for
life and required cutting-edge medical facilities to keep them
alive.

Onuchukwu who is an Orthopedic Consultant, specifically declared
that at 44 Army Reference Hospital alone, a total of 7,403 wounded
soldiers in action, have been received, treated and some undergoing
treatment.

“Since the war against insurgency, about 7,403 wounded in active
military personnel have been evacuated to this hospital for very
urgent medical attention.

“While some of such wounded personnel, got treated and
discharged with different forms of deformities, some are maimed for
life.

“Those in this category are the ones with spinal cord injury
being assisted with Urethral Implant for them to urinate.

“Some also have their legs and hands amputated as a result of
cancerous injuries sustained at the battlefronts.

“These are aside others, being rehabilitated from physical,
emotional and psychological injuries,” he said.

He said the hospital among others, has five suites of theatres,
8-bed Intensive care Unit, State of an art Radiology Department, an
Endoscopy Unit, etc.

He however said despite the increased capacity of the hospital,
some special procedures and treatments are still done abroad.

He, therefore, appealed to the National Assembly and by
extension, the Federal Government to assist the Hospital to attain
the status of UN Level 4 Hospital.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Lawan, assured that the
legislature would work with the executive in ensuring that the
armed forces is properly resourced and motivated.

He added that the N895 billion supplementary budget recently
forwarded to the National Assembly by the Presidency for the
purchase of military equipment and COVID-19 vaccines, would be
expeditiously considered and passed and that more funds would be
appropriated for the military in the 2022 budget.

“The country’s mounting security would expose the military
personnel to different forms of injuries, thus the need for more
medical facilities to cater for the needs of wounded soldiers.

“We can’t expect so much from you and give you little. That will
be unfair.

“Our armed forces deserve the support of all Nigerians. We have
to give them adequate resources to protect the country because
everything needs peace and security,” Lawan said.

The Senate delegation along with the Executive Governor of
Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the General Officer
Commanding 1st Mechanized Division, Major-General Ali Keffi, later
visited the Wounded in Action patients across the various
wards.

Other members of the Senate delegation are the Senate Leader,
Yahaya Abdullahi, Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Senate Leader,
Ajayi Boroffice, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi,
Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Ya’u and the Chairman, Senate
Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa.