Bauchi hospital introduces residential medical service for over 80 years
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH) says it has concluded plans to commence residential medical services to citizens aged 80 and above to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Jibrin Yusuf, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Monday.
He said services would start before the end of 2024 at subsidised rates.
He explained that citizens above 80 years old are considered vulnerable, hence the need for residential services “to support them and reduce the physical stress of coming to the facility at that age.
“Families are expected to register clients with correct addresses and phone numbers to conduct services without hitches.
“We have the geriatric clinic for the elderly, but still, we see some of them experiencing difficulties in attending clinic sessions, especially those unaccompanied.
“ATBU-TH has concluded arrangements to conduct home services for this group of vulnerable citizens, as some of them have difficulties accessing healthcare.
“We just need them to register in our hospital, and the services will be provided to them.
“The team to provide the services includes a doctor, nurse, dietitian, and physiotherapist, and we will keep adding personnel to the team to ensure quality care.”
Yusuf also disclosed that the hospital is in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide emergency ambulance services.
According to him, the call centre in Bauchi will direct all calls on emergency cases to the ambulance and the desk officer in the facility.
“This is because the Federal Government has set aside funds for ambulance service; ATBU-TH will leverage that fund as we have concluded discussions with the NCC call centre in Bauchi.
“So, all calls on health emergencies will be routed to the ambulance and the hospital to save the lives of our people through the 911 free toll number.
“The ambulance has well-equipped health gadgets and experts, including an oxygen plant,” he said.
He urged the public to support the hospital in providing quality information in the interest of public health.
