By Sama’ila Adamu

At General Hospital Katsina which is the leading healthcare service provider in the state, the governor appointed Dr. Mohammad Umar as Medical Director to oversee the transformation of the hospital for improved healthcare service delivery to its clients from all parts of the state.

Dr Umar is a Consultant Gynecologist with decades of experience in this very important field. Within just three months, Dr. Umar was able to introduce groundbreaking policies, programs, and projects that have now enhanced healthcare service delivery at General Hospital, Katsina.

These include the establishment of a new ICT Center which has gone along way in automating the hospital’s operations, considering the key role played by technology in entrenching patient-centered healthcare delivery systems globally.

Now, ICT has revolutionized data capturing, processing, and storing of records at the various departments and units of the hospital, as most other operations, from clinical to medical to administrative have also transitioned to ICT-based.

The hospital management under Dr Mohammed Omar has also purchased critical medical equipment that are essential for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients at the different units of the hospital. These equipment include glucometer, pulse oxometer, stethoscope, Digital Sphygmomanometer and Mercury Accuson Sphygmomanometer.

This is besides the provision of a new Cardiotocography Machine at the Gynecology Unit of the hospital which is equipped with an on-screen monitor supplied to the upgraded Labour Room.

The management has also procured a Chemistry Analyzer Machine for the medical laboratory to ease the calculation of concentration of specific substances within blood samples and other body fluids. The machine ensures accurate, fast and ready-to-use results.

This is in addition to the procurement of a brand new 2D Ultrasound Scan Machine with two probes including a transvaginal probe to the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Scanning Unit. A 2D ultrasound creates a black and white image that shows the skeletal structure of the baby, and makes the internal organs visible, which is why it is the most commonly used equipment to diagnose the health of a baby.

The Dr. Mohammad Umar-led management also constructed a new walkway linking the upgraded Labour Room and Post-natal ward which has eased the passage of patients between the Labour Room room and Post-natal Ward, there by making it more convenient and safe for them.

Also a section of the Gynecology Ward of the hospital has been rehabilitated in order to provide better, safe and more hygienic services for pregnant women.

Similarly, the management has improved the Accident and Emergency Theater, enhanced Healthcare Insurance Scheme operatiions by providing more drugs for beneficiaries and increased the allowances of security personnel.

Recall that in the recent past, General Hospital Katsina suffered greatly from epileptic power supply, and power outages even at critical times when power would be needed for important medical procedures. This constituted a great risk to patients and caregivers at the hospital. Now, power supply as the hospital has been improved by up to 90 percent, both from regular and complementary sources which include in diesel, solar powered inverters, and outlet generators.

With Dr. Mohammad Umar as the Medical Director of the General Hospital Katsina, much more transformation is expected at the hospital in the coming months and years.