Feature: Returning to Maiduguri

Professor Andrew Brodbelt and colleagues from The Walton Centre returned to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) 18 months after their first visit, to attend the grand opening of their Stroke and Neuroscience Centre. Here is an extract from Professor Brodbelt’s account of the latest trip.
I was back on the plane to Maiduguri, Nigeria 18 months after my last visit, looking at the greenery far below that was recently renewed by the rainy season. This was following an invitation by Chief Medical Director Professor Ahidjo to attend the grand opening of the new UMHT Stroke and Neuroscience Centre we had seen being built on our previous trip. The opening had been delayed due to severe flooding that had damaged much of the hospital’s infrastructure and equipment.
On arrival in Maiduguri, I was met at the airport by a welcoming committee including Dr Baba Aji, a Consultant Neurologist here at The Walton Centre, who had given up family holiday time to be there. There was less security on this occasion, and we drove to The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where I was to spend the next few days.
A key aim of the trip was to help set up equipment that had been donated to the hospital by The Walton Centre, as well as attend the opening ceremony for the new unit. Previously, we had gifted equipment to the hospital that was due to be replaced, rather than dispose of it.
The opening ceremony involved two hours of speeches in the main lecture theatre. In our third row seats we had an excellent view of the backs of the press photographers. Many important people stood up to soliloquize. The whole event built up to the final talk by the Governor. Just before he was due to speak, it was announced that I would say a few words: this was a little unexpected. The best thing about my impromptu comments were their brevity. The Governor then orated eloquently about health care, the progress in Maiduguri, his support for the federal hospital, and thanked The Walton Centre for its support.
We then moved to the formal opening of the stroke and neuroscience centre, named after the Shehu of Borno, the chief religious and cultural leader. Cleaners cheered the Governor and knelt to the Shehu. A ribbon was cut, a plaque unveiled, and a short tour of the facilities ensued. The Walton Centre was again thanked, as we toured round the theatres filled with preloved Walton Centre equipment.
The image guidance machine uses scan data, which will allows surgeons to know where in relation to the patient’s scan they are on the head. To test it requires the correct scan sequences. More Walton Centre staff, Neuroradiologists Dr Samantha Mills and Dr Kumar Das provided support in setting this up. A volunteer (A University student) was procured to have a test scan that could be used to demonstrate the machine. The generator was switched on, as the hospital runs on solar power, and the MRI needs consistent power. The first ever volume scan was then performed on this scanner to be used for image guidance.
Moving to main theatre, the electromagnetic (EM) image guidance machine had its first successful test run. We were also able to get the Leica Operating Microscope working.
A document has been developed and signed by both hospitals sets out the collaboration between UMTH and The Walton Centre. It defines responsibilities, encourages clinical cooperation, and formalises the process started more than two years ago.
Patients were being seen in the new centre in the following weeks. In fact, Dr Aji led the way by seeing the first new patient ever in the stroke and neuroscience centre in his office. There is a pathway to rapidly open the centre, area by area, until it is providing stroke and neurosciences services to the 30 million people it serves.
On the way to an early morning flight back to Abuja, we attended the hospital orchard. Professor Ahidjo had developed this vacant land to provide subsidised fruit to patients and hospital staff. I was honoured to have my own mango tree planted. I hope that Dr Baba Aji and I will be able to follow the growth and development of the tree, the new Stroke and Neuroscience Centre, and the partnership with The Walton Centre.
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