By Idahosa Moses, Omoigui Lawrenta Osarue
BENIN CITY- Drums in their hundreds were rolled out in ecstasy on Thursday in Benin City, the Edo State Capital as one of the foremost teaching hospitals in Nigeria, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) held its Inaugural Founders’ Day celebration after 46 years amid pomp and ceremony.
The event which also witnessed the Launching of the hospital’s Endowment Found was attended by captains of industries, top notch politicians, religious leaders, traditional rulers/ Chiefs as well as the former Nigeria Military Head of Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, his wife, Lady (Mrs.) Victoria Gowon and the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole amongst others.
In his brief remark, the Chairman of the Ceremony, Gen. Yakubu Gowon commended the management of the hospital for expanding the healthcare service delivery, education and research of hospital.
The Chairman, Board of Management, UBTH, the Bashorun of Owu in Ogun State, Chief Adedoja Adewolu in his address disclosed that the Founders’Day celebration was put together by management of the hospital to honour the founding fathers and mothers for their contributions to the present day University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
He said the hospital has been playing a role of pacesetter in the management of resources, adding that the hospital in fulfilling the objectives in its vision and mission has contributed greatly to the improvement of healthcare services in Nigeria.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chieftain Medical Director of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki said that the Hospital has been re-positioned to actualise the vision cum mission of the founding fathers particularly the Late Brigadier-General Samuel Ogbemudia.
He explained that the rationale behind the launching of the hospital’s Endowment Found was to enable UBTH carryout treatment like kidney transplant; stem cell transplant amongst others.
The CMD, while going on the historical furay of the hospital said the hospital which was established in 1971 as Midwest Medical Centre has risen to become the second largest teaching hospital in the country
Disclosing that the UBTH has qualified medical personnels to carryout treatment on patients irrespective of the illness, Prof Obaseki maintained that the Hospital is the only hospital in sub-Saharan Africa to have successfully done 3 stem cell transplants , pioneerned into vitro fertilization (IVF) services amongst government hospitals in Nigeria.
He, posited further that UBTH, provides Training for the middle and high-level manpower needed for the healthcare workforce in various disciplines in Nigeria, just as he noted that late referral of patients could easily lead to death of patients, hence, the need for early referral of patients.
