CBM donates over N300m eye treatment equipment to UMTH after flood damage
The Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International has donated eye treatment equipment worth over N300 million to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) following the destruction of critical ophthalmology facilities
The Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International has donated eye treatment equipment worth over N300 million to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) following the destruction of critical ophthalmology facilities during the September 2024 floods in Maiduguri.
The equipment was formally presented on Wednesday at UMTH in Maiduguri, with officials describing the intervention as a major boost to eye care services in the North-East.
The equipment was formally handed over to the hospital’s Ophthalmology Department under a project titled “Rehabilitation of Flood and Crisis-Affected Eye Health Infrastructure in Maiduguri.” The initiative was funded by CBM International and implemented in partnership with the COCIN Community Development Programme (CCDP), Molai.
According to a statement issued during the handover ceremony, the project—valued at about N350 million (€200,000)—was implemented between September 2025 and February 2026 following the September 10, 2024, flood, which submerged the ground-floor Ophthalmology Department of UMTH.
The Nation reports that the September 2024 floods in Maiduguri caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and public facilities, including sections of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The flood also disrupted several healthcare services, including those at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, especially the ophthalmology unit, prompting appeals for emergency support and rehabilitation of damaged facilities.
Speaking during the presentation, the Country Director of CBM, Mr. Samuel Omoi, said the donation was part of the organization’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and supporting persons with visual impairment and other disabilities, particularly in communities affected by humanitarian crises.
According to him, the intervention became necessary after the devastating September 2024 floods damaged several medical facilities in Maiduguri, including vital ophthalmic equipment used for diagnosis and treatment at UMTH.
Mr. Omoi also added that the cutting-edge machines provided will help the institution with research and training since it's a university teaching hospital.
The newly donated equipment includes specialized diagnostic and treatment machines such as a slit-lamp microscope, a rotary contact tonometer, a fundus photography camera, a laser generator, a laser treatment stage, three proximity diagnostic devices, a display rack, and other ophthalmic devices required for advanced eye care and specialist training.
Officials said the equipment would significantly improve the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat eye conditions, including cataracts and other vision-related diseases, while also supporting the training of resident doctors and medical students in ophthalmology.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital management, the Chief Medical Director of UMTH, Professor Ahmed Adhijo, who was represented by Prof. Modu Kagu, expressed appreciation to CBM for the intervention, describing it as timely and critical to restoring eye care services at the institution that the floods disrupted.
He emphasized the importance of training and maintenance to ensure optimal use of the equipment, noting that medical technology requires skilled personnel and technical support to deliver a sustainable impact.
“We appreciate this generous support. However, beyond the supply of equipment, training, and maintenance are also very important. When such machines are provided without adequate training, they may not be utilized effectively. Integrating training and maintenance will ensure sustainability and maximum benefit to patients,” he said.
Professor Adhijo also called for sustained collaboration between UMTH and CBM to further strengthen ophthalmology services in the region.
Officials at the event noted that the donation would help restore and expand eye care services not only for patients in Borno State but also for thousands of people from neighbouring states across the North-East and neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Chad who rely on UMTH for specialized medical care.
The presentation ceremony attracted medical professionals, development partners, and hospital administrators who commended CBM for its continued humanitarian support to health institutions in Nigeria.
With the new equipment in place, UMTH officials say the hospital is now better positioned to restore full ophthalmology services and improve access to quality eye care in the region.