The Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (RTD) on Wednesday inuagurated Prosthetics and Orthotics workshop at the 44 Nigerian Army Refrence Hospital Kaduna.
It is report that the, prosthetics and orthotics workshop was build by German Government through the German Technical Advisory Group (GTAG), and handed over to Nigerian Government.
Magashi said, I am delighted to receive on behalf of Federal Government, and good people of Nigeria , the prosthetics workshop constructed here at 44 hospital by the Government of Germany .
The Minister was represented by Acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr Olajide Johnson.
Magashi recalled that the German government through GTAG earlier established a rehabilitation clinic and handed it over to Nigerian government in 2019, as part of German support to our war efforts against insurgency.
“Within the short time of it’s operation and for the fact that the clinic is the only one of its kind with state-of -the art medical equipment in Nigeria , it attracted and overwhelming patronage across the country.
According to him, due to the urgent need for it’s expansion , the GTAG initiated the expansion of the clinic to accommodate the large turnout of patience while including a prosthetic workshop.
“I therefore on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, express our profound gratitude to the German government for this laudable projects.
“The Federal government and particularly members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain grateful for your diverse support in supplying of medical equipment and provision of technical expertise through GTAG .
He assured the good people of Germany of our renewed commitment to ensure that the state of the art equipment provided in this workshop and other equipment facilities elsewhere will be judiciously utilized for the benefit of all Nigerians and humanity in general.
“I wish to also reassure you of our utomost desire to sustain this very important collaboration between our armed forces.
Earlier, the German Ambassador to Nigerian, Mrs Birgitt Ory, said the handover and inauguration of the Prosthetic Workshop is another important step in the relationship of our two countries.
The Ambassador was represented by by Lt-Col Jens Gliemann, German Technical Advisory Group to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to her, under the so-called “Equipment Aid program” in short EAP, Germany works with selected countries in Africa, including Nigeria, to improve the operational capability of their armed forces.
She said, in the areas of logistics, maintenance, or medical care.
“In Nigeria, the German government has invested around 20 milion euros over the past five years as part of the equipment aid program, around 2.8 million euros went to the rehabilitation Center project in the 44. reference hospital Kaduna.
“The idea to establish this rehabilitation
center came to the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Buhari,
during his visit to the 2015 – G7 Summit in Germany.
“The President had a very friendly and fruitful exchange of views with
our former chancellor Angela Merkel, on bilateral relations, international security and measures to be taken against challenges in the region.
He outlined several projects that were discussed in the German
Parliament, some of which have been
included in the equipment aid program for bilateral cooperation.
“When we built our first rehab clinic
building in 2017/2018 with the support of between 2016-2019,I immediately
received a commitment that the German
government would like to support this
initiative in order to find a medical solution together with other civillan partners.
“We where able to secure one of the largest manufacturers of artificial limps in the world, the German company OTTOBOCK.
She said, this company is known worldwide as an excellent cooperation partner in the field of prostheses and orthoses.
“They are the main sponsor of the Para Olympics and also support the Invictus Games.
She explained that, In order for Nigeria to be independent in the manufacture of
prostheses, we have already started
training prosthetic technicians in Germany in 2020.
“They have received one
year of training and have been certified by international standards.
In September 2022, Nigeria will have three certified technicians.
“Today we are so far that Nigeria is already starting to produce prostheses.
” The first five patients have already received their new limbs and, in cooperation with the rehabilitation clinic, they will quickly learn to master their lives with this new medical aid.
“There is no denying that the partnership
approach is beginning to bear fruit.
“We the Federal Republic of Germany, will further intensify this cooperation in the coming years and will closely support our Nigerian partner.
“I can assure you that the Federal
Republic of Germany is still very
interested in working together as partner, “Ory said
The Acting Corps Commander Medical Nigerian Army , Col Idris Solebo said the goal of medical corps remains the provision of good quality health care
Solebo said the involvement of the armed forces of Nigeria I various military operations around the country sometimes results in to fatalities and injuries.
He said the constitution of this prosthetic workshop for production of artificial limbs for soldiers and civilian populace is very important.
“This local production of world class artificial limbs will facilitate our efforts at rehabilitation of combat amputees there by boosting the morale of the fighting force, “Solebo said.
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