National Orthopaedic Hospital Jos Performs 154 Major Surgeries in First Year of Operations

The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos (NOH-Jos), Plateau State, has performed 154 major surgeries in its first year of clinical operations despite limited resources.

The disclosure was made by the hospital's Medical Director, Prof. Icha Onche, to journalists in his office in Jos. According to the medical director, the hospital had attended to 8,502 outpatients since outpatient services commenced on May 20, 2025, while 259 patients had been admitted since full clinical operations began on October 20, 2025.

Giving a breakdown of the surgical figures, Onche said, "This facility has carried out 159 surgical procedures, including 154 major reconstructive surgeries, as well as specialised procedures such as hip and knee replacement surgeries." He added that five patients had received major prosthetic fittings within the same period.

Onche described the hospital's progress as remarkable for a relatively young specialist institution, stressing that management remains committed to providing quality orthopaedic care through modern medical interventions and highly skilled personnel.

On finances, he disclosed that the hospital generated ₦72 million in internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2025, describing the performance as encouraging despite the institution's short period of operation. On staffing, Onche said the hospital recruited 193 personnel during its first phase of employment and recently employed an additional 93 staff members, emphasising that all appointments were based strictly on merit.

The medical director also highlighted the hospital's collaboration with the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with vendors for the supply of medical equipment, while acknowledging the support received from both the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, which also covered the briefing, the facility offers reconstructive procedures, hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, limb lengthening and reconstruction, and management of bone gaps, fractures and spine surgeries, alongside physiotherapy, paediatric orthopaedic services, arthroscopy, sports medicine and prosthetic and orthotic services.

Separate reporting on the milestone noted that the hospital's progress came despite facing delays in the release of approved federal budget allocations, with Onche using the briefing to appeal to the Federal Government for the prompt disbursement of already-approved funds to sustain the pace of expansion.

The hospital, established in 2023, serves the North Central geopolitical zone comprising Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger States and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on musculoskeletal and plastic surgery care. At the commencement of its full clinical operations in October 2025, hospital officials described the facility's mission in terms of restoring mobility, dignity and hope for patients across the region, pledging a model of care anchored on empathy and compassion for a population that has historically had limited access to specialist orthopaedic treatment.

Prof Onche expressed optimism that the hospital would continue to expand its services and improve access to quality orthopaedic care for patients across the North Central zone, noting that ongoing partnerships with sister institutions and equipment vendors would help the hospital build on its first-year performance.

Health analysts say the hospital's first-year output, delivered largely with a young workforce and constrained early-stage funding, reflects growing capacity within Nigeria's specialist tertiary health institutions to reduce the need for patients to seek orthopaedic and reconstructive care abroad.