President Muhammadu Buhari, has commissioned the newly constructed 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital in Bauchi.

The newly commissioned NAF Reference Hospital is a 60-bed hospital that consists of an Accident and Emergency Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Twin Theatres, Radio Diagnostic Unit as well as Renal Dialysis, Ophthalmic, Dental, Physiotherapy, Maternal and new born units in addition to a mortuary.

It is also equipped with modern diagnostic and Life Support equipment intended to provide medical care to critically ill patients such as those wounded in combat.

The establishment of the medical facility became necessary to specially provide additional medical support for members of the Armed Forces involved in counter insurgency operations in the Northeast.

According to a press release by the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force , Air Vice Marshal , Olatokunbo Adesanya

President Buhari in his remarks disclosed that the hospital is part of the growing commitment to enhance the welfare of troops in the theatre of operations.

 The President stated that the counter insurgency efforts would be enhanced by the location of this medical facility because of its proximity to the theatres of operation.

“The strategic goal is that more lives will be saved from operational injuries”, he explained.

The president  also indicated that the new NAF hospital would reinforce the national trauma medical support for critical emergencies such as natural or man-made disasters.

He however thanked and commended the NAF for initiating and completing this facility while urging it to ensure sustainability of maintenance and quality delivery of service to members of the AFN and the civil populace.

 He then noted that the NAF remained a key component of the Armed Forces in its constitutional role of providing aid to civil authorities across the country.

In his welcome address, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that the services of the hospital would also be extended to civilians, which had been the tradition in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

He added that the hospital is part of the efforts of the current NAF leadership to reform the healthcare system of the Service and to support the on-going counter insurgency operations by ensuring the availability of immediate quality medical care to those injured in active service.

” NAF is using its medical facilities in its campaign of Winning Hearts and Minds of the populace , which has been a major component of its counter insurgency strategy in the Northeast. “

He acknowledged that the achievements would not have been possible without the support of President Buhari.

He therefore expressed profound appreciation to the President for the support that the NAF, and indeed the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), had been enjoying under the current Federal Government Administration.

The CAS then pledged that NAF personnel, under his leadership, would re-double efforts to ensure the security of Nigerians and uphold the present democratic ideals for the progress and prosperity of our fatherland.

Air Marshal Abubakar equally thanked the Executive Governor of Bauchi State for allocating the huge parcel of land the NAF Base is today located.