By Joy Odor
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned a newly constructed and well-equipped Dialysis Centre at the 063 NAF Hospital, Abuja.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar in a statement said this is in furtherance of its commitment towards the provision of qualitative healthcare services for its personnel and their families.
Represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, the CAS discloded that the Centre has a large Treatment Room with 3 Dialysis Machines and other support equipment as well as a comfortable Reception Area, 2 Consulting Rooms and a Nursing Station.
While conducting the Representative of the CAS on a tour of facilities in the Dialysis Centre, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, stated that the Centre, which also has its own integrated water supply/treatment as well as alternative power supply systems, was established because of the global increase in cases of hypertension and diabetes, which often lead to kidney diseases.
He noted that the establishment of the Centre in the Hospital would make it much easier for NAF personnel and their families as well as civilians from the surrounding communities to be managed for kidney diseases.
He stated further that the Centre would complement the newly-designated COVID-19 Management Centre because, according to him, “The kidney is one of the organs that the Novel Coronavirus attacks. Hence, the proximity of this Centre to the new COVID-19 Management Centre will further enhance the treatment of patients with the disease”.
The Commander also remarked that the Hospital has a well-trained team of medical consultants, nurses and support staff that will effectively man the Centre for optimal performance. “We can easily take care of a minimum of 3 patients everyday; 7 days a week”, he added.
It will be recalled that the NAF recently converted the Accident and Emergency Unit at the 063 NAF Hospital to a 25-bed COVID-19 Management Centre as part of facilities designated in the Armed Forces of Nigeria COVID-19 Response Team’s contribution to the National Response.
Others present at the commissioning ceremony were the NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Commodore Gideon Bako, as well as Directors from Headquarters NAF and other senior NAF officers.
