Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital (SYMH) is a public healthcare facility located in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State, Nigeria. It was established in 1952 using funds from the Gwandu Native Authority and officially commissioned in December 1952 as a general hospital.
Historical Background
- Initially constructed as a general hospital with a maternity unit and three wards:
- One male ward
- Two female wards
- The first indigenous medical doctor was Dr. Lodi.
- The charge nurse was Mallam Aliyu Lemu.
- The maternity unit was originally staffed by two European nursing sisters.
Over the decades, the hospital underwent administrative transitions: - From Gwandu Native Authority - To Northern Nigerian Government - Then to Northwestern State Government - Later Sokoto State Government - Finally, to the Kebbi State Government upon its creation in August 1991
Transformation and Renaming
- Upon the creation of Kebbi State in 1991, the hospital was upgraded to Specialist Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.
- In 1997, it was renamed Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital to honor Sir Yahaya, the 17th Emir of Gwandu.
- Sir Yahaya had the vision to build the hospital on his personal farmland, without requesting compensation, demonstrating a commitment to public health.
Hospital Capacity and Leadership
- SYMH is a 290+ bed facility.
- It is currently headed by a Chief Medical Director (CMD).
Departments
- Accident and Emergency
- Maternity Unit
- Pae