By Adéyemí Olusoga
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its newly commissioned Dialysis Centre at the 063 NAF Hospital in Abuja can handle treatment for at least three patients undergoing dialysis.
The Centre was commissioned on Wednesday July 1, 2020 by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar who was represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.
The Centre has a large Treatment Room with three Dialysis Machines and other support equipment as well as a comfortable Reception Area, two Consulting Rooms and a Nursing Station.
The Commander, 063 NAF Hospital, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, said 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 saying “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”.
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.
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.
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.
