By Iduozee Paul, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11, has expressed disappointment and dismay over the dilapidated state of equipment and facilities at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) even as he commended the management for remembering the foundering fathers for the great roles they played to ensure the teaching hospital came into existence.
The Benin monarch expressed his dismay when the chief medical director (CMD) of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, led other management team of the hospital to pay a courtesy visit to Oba Palace to inform the monarch about activities lined-up to honour the memories of the founding fathers of the university.
Oba Ewuare 11, equally admonished doctors and staff in UBTH to be more professional and exhibit good conduct towards their patients, as he also used the forum to inform his visitors that their founders day festivity coincides with the time the palace will be celebrating UgieIvie, which will last for a month, during which period, the wearing of beads in Benin Kingdom is prohibited.
ChiefMedical Director of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki told the monarch they werein the Palace to inform the Palace about the first ever Founders DayCelebration of the hospital, and to seek for royal blessings and support tomake the programme a huge success.
He saidthe event will be used to honour those who have contributed to the growth anddevelopment of the hospital over the years, and thanked the Oba for hissupport, encouragement, prayers for the staff and management of the teachinghospital.
In arelated issue, Prof. Darlington Obaseki’s also disclosed to journalistsat a press conference that, over the years, the UBTH has built skill andcapacity by delivering highly specialized services, which includes; ln-VitroFertilization, and offering of hope of pregnancy for many families.
Prof.Obaseki stated that for example, that with regards tothe Stem-Cell TransplantServices for patientswith sickle cell disease, UBTH is the first and onlyuniversity teaching hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain these feats, addingthat, the delivery of an ovarian pregnancy was achieved in the hospitalrecently.
“Theinstitution will use the forum to educate the public to add to the advancementof the hospital through the launching of an Endowment Fund, as UBTH needs toexpand its range as well as, investigational and interventional services tomodern standard to the extent that it will reverse the current trend of outwardmedical tourism.”
“The UBTHhas been able to undertake a wider range of surgical and non-surgical treatment, trained many schools’ health workers and professionals, and operates one ofthe most robust post-graduate medical programs in West Africa,’’ the CMD added.
Respondingto the CMD, the Edo State NUJ chairman, Comrade Roland Osakwe, commended theUBTH community, the CMD and his entire management team for the gains andachievements that the institution has achieved since inception.
Heassured them that the media will ensure adequate publicity is given to theirreport to make the general public know what they are doing.
