History of the Hospital
In 1974, the Government of the defunct North-Eastern State of Nigeria initiated the construction of a Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. However, the Federal Government took over and completed the project. Although the first patient was admitted on 18 February, 1982, the Hospital was officially commissioned as University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) on 23rd July, 1983 by the then President, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari. Since then, the Hospital, which covers 64,773 hectares, has been undergoing monumental transformation in terms of infrastructure, manpower and equipment. Designated as Center of Excellence in Immunology and Infectious Disease by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1986, UMTH is one of the leading tertiary Hospitals in Africa.
The Hospital serves more than 30 million people in the North-Eastern States of Adamawa. Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, as well as residents of the adjoining Cameroun, Niger and Chad Republics. The level of outpatient patronage has increased by about 1.5 times over the past 10 years, as reflected in the Hospital records.
FACILITIES
The Hospital's Curative and Preventive healthcare Department and Units include: the Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Immunization, Community Medicine, Radiology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Histhopatology, Microbiology, Immunology, Orthopedics and Trauma, Dental/Maxillofacial Surgery, Endoscopy, Opthalmology, Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT), Cardiology, Family Medicine, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Nursing Services, Social Work and Outreach services in Comprehensive Healthcare Centers at Madagali in Adamawa State, Banki Town in Borno State, Federal Secretariat (Urban Center Maiduguri) also in Borno State, and Potiskum Outreach Center in Yobe State.
The UMTH is now a 1305-bed facility spread across 22 Wards. It has the following Institutions which attract candidates from its catchment areas and beyond:
- School of Nursing
- School of Health Information Management
- Community Health Officers' Training School
- Bio-Medical Engineering Technology Training School
- School of Pre-operative Nursing
- School of Critical Care and Post-Basic Nursing
Also, its Radiology Department hosts the Regional Ultrasonography Training Center for West Africa, in collaboration with Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (JUREI), Philadelphia USA. The Hospital pioneered the establishment of Interventional Radiology in the West Africa.
FORMER BOARD CHAIRMEN
- Alhaji Shettima Liberty 1980-1982
- Mr. Nuhu Y. Adamu 1983-1985
- Alhaji Bulama Gana 1985-1985
- Dr. Istifanus Mangga 1986-1994
- Dr. Muhammad Arabi Tukur 2000-2005
- Prof. Uche O. Osunkwo 2005-2007
- Prof. Sadiq Suleiman Wali 2009-2012
- Hon. Dr. Willie Inoma Ogbeido 2012-2018
- Alhaji Hadi Ukashatu Gumel 2018-2023
FORMER CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTORS
- Prof. George Edington 1979-1980
- Prof. Harold Scarbrough 1980-1983
- Prof. Suleiman B. Lagundoye 1984-1985
- Prof. Idriss Muhammed 1985-1994
- Prof. Abba Waziri Hassan 1994-2002
- Prof. Othman Kyari 2002-2010
- Prof. Abdurrahman Tahir 2010-2018
FORMER DIRECTORS OF ADMINISTRATION
- Alhaji Baba Mai Ali 1980-1990
- Alhaji Baba Ba'aba 1990-1992
- Hajiya Hamra Imam 1992-1996
- Alhaji Muhammad A. Marte 1999-2008
- Babagana Muhammad Aji 2008-2012
- Babagana Mohammed 2013-2020
- Ahmad Alhaji Lawan 2021-2022
FORMER CHAIRMEN MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CMACs)
- Dr. Enwerem
- Dr. Ekenna
- Prof. Bwala
- Prof. Ibrahim Adamu Rabasa
- Prof. Othman Kyari
- Dr. Ali Gombe
- Prof. Abdulrahman Tahir
- Prof. Madziga
- Prof. Bashir Tahir
- Prof. Mala Bukar Sandabe
Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo is the 8th Chief Medical Director of UMTH for the past four years, from 3rd September, 2018 to Date.
His four years in office, has marked enormous developmental achievements, that have left what his next four years would be in the imagination of everyone.