By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd.) on Thursday commissioned an ultra-modern mortuary facility he donated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo.
The state-of-the-art facility equipped with some of the best preservation technology available is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges faced by the hospital.
Speaking during the commissioning, General Danjuma emphasised the importance of maintaining the facility saying, “We don’t have a maintenance culture in this country. You have to maintain this facility to serve the society better,” he stressed.
He urged the hospital management to ensure the equipment remains in optimal condition for years to come.
The elder statesman revealed that his motivation to build the mortuary stemmed from a personal experience. He recounted a situation where the body of his personal lawyer’s mother was poorly preserved at the hospital.
“At the point of evacuation for the burial, the corpse was not in good shape. When I heard the story, I directed my white engineer to come up with a proposal using the best equipment in the world.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project. Danjuma expressed gratitude for its completion, noting that it would improve service delivery at the hospital.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Jalingo, Dr Aisha Adamu, expressed deep appreciation for the generous donation. She praised General Danjuma’s continuous humanitarian efforts, particularly his support to the healthcare sector.
“This facility is a game-changer for us, and we pledge to make the best use of it,” she said, promising that the hospital management would prioritise its upkeep.
Commissioner for Health, Taraba State, Hon. Bordiya Buma, commended the foresight and generosity of General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, for providing a state-of-the-art facility which he said will greatly improve how the hospital preserves dead bodies, as well as enhance medical research and training.
“With the provision of modern equipment and essential services, this facility will serve as a vital support to the Federal Medical Centre Jalingo, ensuring professional mortuary services and contributing to the overall improvement of healthcare delivery in our state.
“On behalf of the entire health sector of Taraba State, we express our profound gratitude to General TY Danjuma for his steadfast support and investment in our people. His contributions have set a standard for others to follow, and we are truly blessed to have him as a champion of healthcare development in our state.”
Buma also thanked Governor Agbu Kefas, for his leadership and commitment to improving the health and well-being of our people, noting that the Governor’s vision for a healthier Taraba is what drives the transformative projects, and assured the people of positive impacts in the years to come.
