… hospital to offer IVF at 700,000
The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, has unveiled an aggressive push to take its advanced medical services to hospitals and clinics in Benue State as well as neighbouring states, in a move aimed at expanding access to specialised care and reducing medical tourism.
The initiative, which commenced on Monday, November, involved the deployment of clinical and sensitisation teams to major public and private health facilities to brief healthcare professionals on the scope of modern diagnostic and therapeutic services now available at the teaching hospital.
The Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Tsenzughul Moses, in a statement on Monday said, the exercise is designed to promote inter-facility referrals and ensure that the multi-million naira equipment recently acquired by the Benue State Government is fully utilised for the benefit of the people.
A key highlight of the services is the hospital’s fully functional In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) laboratory and theatre. BSUTH now offers IVF, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and cryopreservation of eggs, sperm and embryos at a subsidised cost of N700,000.
The management said the subsidised rate is intended to give couples battling infertility the opportunity to access world-class fertility treatment within Benue, without travelling to Abuja or Lagos at exorbitant costs.
According to the statement, the hospital’s 64-slice CT scanner provides high-resolution imaging for detailed evaluation of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, brain and vascular system, while its fluoroscopy suite supports specialised examination of the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.
Similarly, BSUTH has commenced apheresis services using the Spectra Optia Apheresis System procured by the Benue State Government. The machine is primarily for sickle cell patients who require automated red blood cell exchange, but also supports therapeutic plasma exchange and collection of specialised blood components and stem cells.
For surgical services, the hospital’s cryostat machine enables rapid histopathological examination of tissues during operations, allowing surgeons to make informed decisions in real time.
Its endoscopy and colonoscopy units offer minimally invasive investigation of ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancers, with capacity for biopsy and other therapeutic interventions.
In addition, the hospital provides PCR-based testing for Hepatitis B and C viral load, which helps clinicians assess viral replication and monitor patient response to treatment.
The statement noted that the state government has made huge investments in modern medical technology and the onus is on healthcare providers to leverage the facilities.
It urged hospitals, clinics and members of the public to seek referrals, consultations and bookings, assuring that BSUTH remains committed to its mandate of delivering affordable, accessible and quality tertiary healthcare to the people of Benue State and beyond.
