The Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Professor Stephen Hwande, has called on the people of Benue State and particularly staff of the hospital to renew the four-year mandate of the State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, in the 2027 governorship election to enable him to take Benue State and the hospital to greater heights.
Prof. Hwande made the call in an address during the celebration of his three years in office as CMD, BSUTH, Dinner and Award Night for hardworking staff of the hospital and other personalities in the state, held Thursday at the hospital’s Cafeteria
He stated that during the period under review, the hospital has recorded significant achievements in the area of healthcare delivery and the well-being of the people of the state as well as other neighbouring states, while he ascribed the achievements to the commitment of Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, who is providing all the finances, advice and other logistics for the hospital to grow and become a citadel of excellent healthcare delivery.
Prof. Hwande mentioned some of the achievements to include: the establishment of a Fertility Clinic offering In-Vitro Fertilization services, supported by a dedicated laboratory and theatre, alongside a molecular laboratory; the commencement of full clinical services at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, BSUTH Annex; recruitment of over one thousand staff and installation of new equipment at the Radiology Department.
He stated that, during his time as CMD, there was procurement, through the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, of state-of-the-art medical equipment valued at over N13 billion, installation of an MRI machine, among other great milestones.
The Chief Medical Director further stated that the Dinner and Award Night was set aside to allow staff of the hospital to relax as well as honour hard work as a mark of encouraging staff to do more in their quest to take the hospital to greater heights. He congratulated the award recipients, calling on them to keep the flag of the hospital flying.
In an address, the Vice-Chancellor of Moses Orshio Adasu University (MOAOU), who was also the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Timothy Alabar, applauded the Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, for his landmark infrastructural development of the teaching hospital.
He commended Governor Alia and Prof. Hwande for the establishment of the Therapeutic Centre for Children with Special Needs, Pharmaco-Surgical Complex, VIP Smart Ward, Institute of Health Technology, which demonstrated deliberate commitment to expanding the hospital’s capacity to meet evolving healthcare needs.
Prof. Alabar stated that the introduction of the Basic Nursing Specialist Programme and the successful completion of more than 40 clinical accreditation exercises involving professional and regulatory bodies underscore the institution’s commitment to professional training, quality assurance and excellence in medical practice; the upgrade of the Amenity Ward to world-class standards and the modernisation of the Radiology Department, including the installation of advanced diagnostic equipment such as a 64-slice CT scanner, fluoroscopic machine, ultrasound systems and a renovated MRI machine, have significantly strengthened the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended the improvements in manpower and supporting infrastructure including the recruitment of more than 1,000 staff members across various disciplines, installation and connection of a 33KV transformer, acquisition of a water tanker and a 32-seater Toyota Coaster bus, and the establishment of sterile and distilled water production facilities all demonstrate attention to the essential requirements of an effective healthcare institution.
“The ongoing construction of a mini waterworks, designed to produce approximately 230 cubic litres of water per day, is another noteworthy development,” Prof. Alabar stated.
On her part, the Chairlady of the occasion, who doubles as the Head of Service, Benue State, Mrs. Eunice Ihum, commended the Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, for providing all the incentives for the smooth running of the hospital. She thanked the CMD, Prof. Terungwa Hwande, for his doggedness and commitment to ensuring the hospital becomes a centre of excellent healthcare delivery in Nigeria and the world at large.
On his part, the Chairman of the Board of the Hospital, Prof. Orkurga Malu, assured that, as the Chairman of the Board, he would continue to ensure the hospital follows duly scientific and medical standards for greatness both in healthcare delivery services and the well-being of the people of the state, while he thanked Governor Alia for finding him and Prof. Hwande worthy at this moment to take the hospital to great heights.
Earlier, the Chairman of the central planning committee, Prof. Michael Agbir, said the occasion was set aside to honour staff of the hospital for their commitment to the upliftment of the hospital, while he thanked Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, for providing the enabling environment and finances for the day-to-day administration of the hospital.
In a chat with The Voice, the General Manager, Benue Links, Makurdi, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, applauded Governor Alia for providing all the finances as well as for the appointment of Prof. Stephen Hwande as CMD of the hospital, and congratulated all the awardees for a job well done.
Some of the awardees, in their various comments-Prof. Peter Tsavyange, Mr. Toryila Igbudu and Gadaffi Asemaya, thanked the management of the hospital for finding them worthy of the Merit Award and promised to sustain efforts to make society and Benue State in particular better and greater.
Among those honoured were David Tersuer Afaga as Overall Best Staff, Mr. Toryila Igbudu as Best Managerial Staff, Prof. Peter Tsavyange as Best Consultant, Dr. Samuel Ogor as Best Registrar, and Bob Micheal as Best Nurse, among others.
