The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening military healthcare as a critical component of sustaining operations and preserving troops’ combat effectiveness.
The COAS made this known in Kaduna while commissioning the newly completed Waidi Shaibu Critical Care Centre at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, 44 NARH.
He also commissioned a modern helipad designed to facilitate the rapid medical evacuation of wounded personnel from operational theatres to the hospital.
The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said timely access to quality medical care has a direct impact on troop morale, recovery and overall operational readiness.
He explained that the Critical Care Centre is equipped to handle trauma, intensive care and other complex medical cases, reducing the need to refer critically injured or ill personnel outside military medical facilities.
“The strength of any fighting force is not measured by weapons alone, but also by the quality of care given to those who bear the burden of national security,” the COAS stated.
He assured that the Nigerian Army would continue to upgrade medical infrastructure across its formations and units to meet contemporary operational and healthcare demands.
The COAS also commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, for the construction of the helipad during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
According to him, the facility is a critical enabler that will significantly reduce casualty evacuation time from operational theatres while improving the chances of survival and recovery for wounded personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged medical personnel at 44 NARH to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ensure the proper utilisation and maintenance of the newly commissioned facilities.
The development is expected to further enhance the Nigerian Army’s capacity to provide timely and specialised medical support to personnel wounded or injured during military operations
