India: 2,050 diagnostic equipment arrives Borno

A total of two thousand and fifty light weight medical equipment, amongst them sets of tools for Laparoscopy surgeries are expected to arrive Maiduguri next week, following Governor Kashim Shettima’s trip to India, where he led negotiations with Indian manufacturers, secured discounted prices and gave necessary approvals for the medical equipment that are of German quality. Dr Salisu Kwayabura, a consultant gynecologist and Borno’s Commissioner of health coordinated and supervised selection of equipment and negotiations in India.‎
Laparoscopy, which soon commence in Borno hospitals, is a modern surgical procedure in which surgeons use specific instruments to create access to the abdomen and pelvis of patients without going through the traditional method of making large incisions on the skin of patients. The procedure fast tracks healing, reduces pains and minimizes risks associated with post surgical difficulties caused by large tearing of patients skin using traditional surgical procedures.

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Governor Shettima, accompanied by the health commissioner, had on Monday, arrived New Delhi, capital of India with a mission to take immediate delivery of the medical equipment required to compliment dozens of heavy weight high tech medical equipment already installed in seven newly built and soon to be commissioned General Hospitals as well as 18 General Hospitals completely overhauled by the Shettima administration. The Governor had turned down offers to award long term contracts to agents, insisting on meeting manufacturers to get immediate delivery.
The state commissioner for health, Dr Salisu Kwayabura described the Governor’s mission in India as highly successful especially with the focus being on the health sector. The Commissioner explained that the two thousand and fifty light weight medical equipment alongside consumables for 3,360 dialysis sessions are already being packaged and are scheduled to reach Borno State coming weekend. He also said Governor Shettima had directed that ‎the equipment be immediately distributed to various hospitals soon as they arrive. He also said the choice of India was because Indian manufacturers produce most of the medical equipment used by German hospitals due to relatively cheaper cost of production and good quality.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian high commission in India on Saturday invited and hosted Governor Kashim Shettima at the high commission’s office located in Chanakyapuri, a diplomatic area in New Delhi.
Governor Shettima was received on arrival by the Nigerian High Commissioner to India, Retired Major General Chris Eze and staff of the commission. General Eze said the high Commission decided to invite and honour the Governor in recognition of his quality of governance which was evident in how he went about his activities while in India.
Governor Shettima used the visit to extend appreciation to the Nigerian high commission for supporting him to achieve his mission in India. He recalled that the high commissioner not only received him at the airport but also provided him with transportation throughout his stay in India and facilitated his accommodation.
The Governor also took time to speak on the areas of similarities and economic interdependence between Nigeria and India which he said predates Nigeria’s independence as India was known to have established it’s Nigerian office in 1958.
Governor Kashim Shettima, who has ended his visit to India, had since 2011, introduced and sustained a policy of involving Nigerian embassies and high commissions in all transactions between Borno State Government and foreign companies in which case Nigerian embassies help in evaluating the integrity of foreign companies and offer support to Borno State officials where they need to follow-up on deliveries to the state.