By Folasade Akpan
The Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals has called for strengthened security around health facilities following recent bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The committee made the call while condemning coordinated explosions that rocked parts of Maiduguri, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, describing the incidents as deeply troubling and unacceptable.
Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Saad Ahmed, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, described the attacks as barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable, urging immediate measures to prevent future occurrences.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the blasts also affected the Monday Market and the Post Office area within the Maiduguri metropolis, causing widespread concern among residents and authorities.
Ahmed expressed deep concern over the attack at the hospital gate, stressing that violence within or around healthcare facilities undermined medical neutrality, threatened lives, and eroded human dignity.
He said any act of violence targeting a healthcare environment constituted a grave assault on humanity, the healthcare system, and the fundamental principles guiding medical neutrality and patient protection.
He emphasised the need for urgent action to safeguard health institutions nationwide, noting that hospitals must remain safe spaces dedicated solely to saving lives and delivering essential medical services.
The committee called on the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to intensify efforts toward strengthening security architecture, particularly around healthcare facilities and other critical public infrastructure across the country.
According to Ahmed, the safety of health institutions, healthcare workers, and patients must remain a paramount national priority requiring coordinated action and sustained commitment from all levels of government.
The committee also extended condolences to the government and people of Borno State, as well as families of victims affected by the attacks, expressing solidarity with those impacted.
He said the committee stood with the management, staff, and patients of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, praying for speedy recovery of the injured and strength for affected families.
Ahmed reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at protecting healthcare infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare service delivery across the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Abiemwense Moru
