By Auwal Ahmad Umar 

The Gombe State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have trained 104 healthcare workers to improve the quality of newborn care and reduce preventable deaths, particularly in communities across northern Nigeria where neonatal mortality remains a major concern.

The intervention focused on equipping frontline medical personnel with the knowledge and practical skills needed to care for newborns, including premature babies and infants requiring specialised medical attention.

The latest two-day training brought together 48 healthcare workers from secondary health facilities in the state. It followed an earlier session involving 56 personnel from primary healthcare centres, bringing the total number of trained workers to 104.

Speaking in Gombe on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, described improved newborn care as an important step towards reducing deaths that could otherwise be prevented through timely and appropriate medical intervention.

Shuaibu explained that some babies were delivered within communities before being referred to secondary hospitals for specialised treatment when complications developed.

He said healthcare workers in such facilities needed adequate training to respond effectively to newborn emergencies and provide appropriate treatment.

The agency’s executive secretary noted that neonatal and infant mortality remained a significant challenge in the state, requiring a joint response from the government, healthcare professionals and development partners.

He expressed hope that the programme would contribute to a reduction in newborn deaths across communities.

Shuaibu also urged participants to share the skills and knowledge acquired during the training with colleagues who were unable to attend, stressing that wider knowledge-sharing would help improve newborn care across more health facilities.

He said the initiative complemented the state government’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and services at primary and secondary levels. He also appreciated UNICEF and other development partners for supporting health interventions in the state.

A UNICEF health officer at its Bauchi Field Office, Oluseyi Olosunde, said the training was organised to mark the 2026 World Prematurity Day.

Olosunde explained that the programme was designed to improve medical care for newborns, especially premature infants and those who require specialised attention.

He emphasised that the quality of healthcare provided to mothers and babies before, during and after delivery played a crucial role in determining survival outcomes.

The UNICEF official said the participants included nurses, midwives and doctors responsible for maternal and newborn healthcare throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

He encouraged the health workers to apply the knowledge gained in their respective facilities to improve treatment outcomes and protect the lives of mothers and infants.

Olosunde expressed concern over the persistently high rate of newborn deaths in several northern Nigerian states, emphasising the importance of building the capacity of healthcare personnel to provide effective services.

Also speaking, a consultant paediatrician at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Raymond Mercy, called on healthcare professionals to prioritise proper medical attention for newborns.

Mercy, a member of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine, said Nigeria’s neonatal mortality rate was estimated at between 34 and 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.

She noted that the country’s high burden of newborn deaths underscored the urgent need to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen the capacity of medical personnel to manage complications affecting newborns.

The training forms part of broader efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes by ensuring that healthcare workers are better equipped to provide quality care to mothers and their babies.

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has congratulated Professor Faruk Buba on his appointment as the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The governor described the appointment as a recognition of Professor Buba years of service in clinical medicine, medical education, research and healthcare management.

In a congratulatory message issued on Tuesday by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at the Government House, Gombe, the governor expressed confidence that the new CMD would use his professional expertise and administrative experience to advance the hospital’s mandate.

Governor Yahaya also commended President Tinubu for the appointment and acknowledged the role of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in the process.

He said the appointment was a source of pride to Gombe State, noting that Professor Buba’s contributions to medical training, specialist healthcare and academic development had earned him recognition beyond his immediate professional environment.

Professor Buba is a Professor of Cardiology and Internal Medicine at the University of Maiduguri and an Honorary Consultant at UMTH. He has held several positions at the hospital, including Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (Clinical), Director of the ICT Centre and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine.

His experience in patient care, medical education and hospital administration is expected to support his new responsibilities at the tertiary health institution.

Governor Yahaya expressed optimism that the professor would deploy his knowledge and leadership skills to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen medical training and research, and enhance the hospital’s operational efficiency.

The governor further assured Professor Buba of the support and goodwill of the Gombe State Government and its people as he begins his tenure.

He urged the new CMD to use the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly by improving services for patients, supporting medical professionals and promoting research.

Governor Yahaya wished Professor Buba a successful tenure, expressing hope that his leadership would leave a lasting impact on the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the wider health sector.

MDCN to New GSU Doctors: Let Compassion, Integrity Guide Your Medical Career

By Auwal Ahmad

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has urged newly qualified medical doctors from Gombe State University (GSU) to build their careers on compassion, professionalism, integrity and collaboration with other healthcare workers.

The advice was delivered during the university’s sixth induction ceremony for medical graduates and the third annual Prof. Idris Mohammed Lecture organised by the College of Medical Sciences in Gombe.

Representing the MDCN Registrar, Prof. Fatima Kyari, Assistant Registrar, Dr Ali Mandaka, described the induction as a major transition from academic training to the realities of professional medical practice.

He congratulated the graduates for reaching an important milestone but reminded them that qualifying as doctors marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning and service.

“The journey into medicine truly begins after graduation. Beyond academic excellence, patients expect compassion, honesty and professionalism from every doctor,” he said.

He praised the College of Medical Sciences for maintaining high standards in medical education and acknowledged the contributions of the university management and academic staff in producing competent healthcare professionals.

Mandaka reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by supporting institutions responsible for training medical personnel.

Addressing the newly inducted doctors, he urged them to place patients’ welfare at the centre of their practice, stressing that every individual seeking medical attention deserved dignity, empathy and quality care.

He also reminded them that effective healthcare depends on cooperation among different professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other members of the medical team.

According to him, no healthcare professional can function effectively in isolation, adding that mutual respect among all hospital staff is essential for quality patient care.

He encouraged the graduates to value the experience of senior colleagues while extending courtesy and respect to every worker within the hospital environment, regardless of their role.

On the next phase of their professional development, Mandaka explained that the council would issue provisional registration certificates to the graduates, enabling them to enrol on the centralised housemanship placement portal where they would apply for hospitals to undertake the compulsory one-year internship.

He noted that the internship must be completed within two years of provisional registration, warning that graduates who fail to secure placement within the stipulated period may be required to undergo an assessment by the council before proceeding.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Prof. Ismail Jibrin, encouraged the young doctors to approach their profession with humility, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility.

He acknowledged that medicine can be physically and emotionally demanding but said the profession offers unique opportunities to save lives, restore hope and make lasting differences in people’s lives.

Jibrin advised the graduates to remain guided by empathy and ethical conduct, especially during difficult moments in their careers, saying the trust placed in doctors comes with enormous responsibility.

A total of 45 medical graduates were inducted during the ceremony, officially qualifying them to begin the process of undertaking their mandatory housemanship in accredited health institutions across Nigeria.

The Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Abubakar Difa, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the demanding academic and clinical training required for the medical profession.

He also commended the parents, lecturers and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the successful training of the new doctors, expressing confidence in their ability to uphold the values of the medical profession

MDCN to New GSU Doctors: Let Compassion, Integrity Guide Your Medical Career

By Auwal Ahmad

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has urged newly qualified medical doctors from Gombe State University (GSU) to build their careers on compassion, professionalism, integrity and collaboration with other healthcare workers.

The advice was delivered during the university’s sixth induction ceremony for medical graduates and the third annual Prof. Idris Mohammed Lecture organised by the College of Medical Sciences in Gombe.

Representing the MDCN Registrar, Prof. Fatima Kyari, Assistant Registrar, Dr Ali Mandaka, described the induction as a major transition from academic training to the realities of professional medical practice.

He congratulated the graduates for reaching an important milestone but reminded them that qualifying as doctors marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning and service.

“The journey into medicine truly begins after graduation. Beyond academic excellence, patients expect compassion, honesty and professionalism from every doctor,” he said.

He praised the College of Medical Sciences for maintaining high standards in medical education and acknowledged the contributions of the university management and academic staff in producing competent healthcare professionals.

Mandaka reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by supporting institutions responsible for training medical personnel.

Addressing the newly inducted doctors, he urged them to place patients’ welfare at the centre of their practice, stressing that every individual seeking medical attention deserved dignity, empathy and quality care.

He also reminded them that effective healthcare depends on cooperation among different professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other members of the medical team.

According to him, no healthcare professional can function effectively in isolation, adding that mutual respect among all hospital staff is essential for quality patient care.

He encouraged the graduates to value the experience of senior colleagues while extending courtesy and respect to every worker within the hospital environment, regardless of their role.

On the next phase of their professional development, Mandaka explained that the council would issue provisional registration certificates to the graduates, enabling them to enrol on the centralised housemanship placement portal where they would apply for hospitals to undertake the compulsory one-year internship.

He noted that the internship must be completed within two years of provisional registration, warning that graduates who fail to secure placement within the stipulated period may be required to undergo an assessment by the council before proceeding.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Prof. Ismail Jibrin, encouraged the young doctors to approach their profession with humility, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility.

He acknowledged that medicine can be physically and emotionally demanding but said the profession offers unique opportunities to save lives, restore hope and make lasting differences in people’s lives.

Jibrin advised the graduates to remain guided by empathy and ethical conduct, especially during difficult moments in their careers, saying the trust placed in doctors comes with enormous responsibility.

A total of 45 medical graduates were inducted during the ceremony, officially qualifying them to begin the process of undertaking their mandatory housemanship in accredited health institutions across Nigeria.

The Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Abubakar Difa, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the demanding academic and clinical training required for the medical profession.

He also commended the parents, lecturers and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the successful training of the new doctors, expressing confidence in their ability to uphold the values of the medical profession.