The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) has announced the establishment of a therapeutic centre dedicated to children with special needs describing it as the the first of its kind in any teaching hospital across the country.
Hwande who disclosed this while conducting journalists round departments of the hospital to show them the newly arrived equipment commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for working to make BSUTH a medical tourism destination in the North Central and beyond.
He said, “The initiative aims at providing comprehensive care and educational support for children with developmental challenges, including boarding facilities to accommodate more beneficiaries.”
He said the centre currently boasts 20 specialised teachers and a multidisciplinary team of experts from various hospital units.
CMD also informed that the 3rd batch of the modern medical equipment from the contractor, United International Technologies Limited, aimed at ending medical migration has arrived the facility.
He said, “The arrival of this equipment will put an end to medical migration, those of you who always go to the Governor to ask for money to travel for medical attention outside the State, will now access their medication here at affordable rate because everything needed for improved medical services is here, patients are going to get quality healthcare services.”
Our correspondent gathered that the arrival of medical equipment makes it the third batch from the ₦13 billion medical equipment procurements agreement between the Benue State Government and United International Technologies Limited,
Dr Hwande informed that, the delivery came ahead of the hospital’s second International Health Investment Summit, scheduled for October 16–17, under the theme “Exploring the Medical Health Potentials at Benue State University Teaching Hospital.”
“The summit will serve as a midterm review of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s two-year administration in healthcare sector highlighting achievements, challenges, and future prospects,” he said.
He emphasised that the governor’s vision is to transform BSUTH into a one-stop medical tourism facility serving not only Benue but neighboring states including Taraba, Cross River, Nasarawa, and Kogi.
“Some of the equipment unveiled today are not available in these regions,” he noted, adding that the goal is to halt medical migration and provide world-class care locally.
“This initiative began at the first summit, where Governor Alia pledged ₦2 billion toward the hospital’s cancer center project, which is estimated to cost nearly ₦20 billion.
“Other facilities birthed from the governor’s vision include a therapeutic center, a pharmaceutical wing, and a VIP unit—all aimed at elevating the hospital’s service delivery and boosting the health sector of the state.
Dr. Hwande maintained that the summit is not about politics but about delivery. “We are focused on delivering this assignment. We have a team of professionals ready to make BSUTH one of the best hospitals in the country,” he added.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Beatrice Tsavmbu, who represented the Commissioner, praised the hospital’s leadership and reaffirmed the ministry’s support. “With Governor Alia, quality is speaking. We must support this transformation in the health sector “
“With the arrival of the Third Batch of the new new equipment, expectations are high that BSUTH will soon become a beacon of medical excellence, drawing patients from across Nigeria and beyond,”