Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has described Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Dennis Idahosa, as a “detribalised Nigerian” whose interventions have significantly contributed to the growth of healthcare infrastructure in Edo State.
Ize-Iyamu made the remarks while presenting a state-of-the-art ambulance to UBTH, commending Idahosa for his sustained efforts in attracting and facilitating major federal healthcare projects to the state.
She particularly credited the Deputy Governor with playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the UBTH Oncology Centre during his tenure in the House of Representatives.
According to the CMD, the centre, one of only three specialised oncology centres in Nigeria, has transformed cancer care in the South-South region by providing access to modern equipment, advanced technology and specialised treatment services.
“Dr. Dennis Idahosa is a detribalised Nigerian. He has demonstrated, through his actions, that his commitment to the development of healthcare goes beyond political, ethnic or geographical considerations,” she said.
Ize-Iyamu noted that the Oncology Centre has become a major reference point for cancer treatment in the region, significantly boosting UBTH’s capacity to provide comprehensive and quality cancer care.
She also applauded Idahosa for his continued support for UBTH, saying his interventions have contributed meaningfully to the hospital’s drive to improve healthcare delivery and provide modern medical services to Nigerians.
The CMD expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between political leaders and healthcare institutions would further strengthen the hospital’s infrastructure and position UBTH as a leading centre for specialised medical care in Nigeria.
“We know what role you played and how you influenced it to come to Edo State at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,” the CMD said, while expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, for supporting the project.
Prof. Ize-Iyamu disclosed that the cancer centre is now 100 per cent operational and has emerged as the number one cancer treatment centre in the South-South geopolitical zone.
The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) and a 16-slice CT scanner used to simulate patients’ lesions before targeted radiotherapy treatment.
She also highlighted the impact of the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund, which is helping to make cancer treatment more affordable for indigent Nigerians.
“With the Cancer Health Fund, if you are poor, you can receive radiotherapy at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, courtesy of this administration,” she said.
The CMD urged the Deputy Governor to visit the centre and witness firsthand the services being provided to patients, stressing that the facility is fully functional and not merely a completed but used project.
She, however, noted that UBTH, which is more than 50 years old, requires significant investment in infrastructure renewal and replacement.
According to her, the hospital’s responsibility extends to everyone living in Edo State, irrespective of ethnicity, social status, language or nationality.
“Anybody that lives in Edo State, irrespective of who you are, you are our people,” she said, adding that UBTH remains committed to serving Edo residents and Nigerians from other parts of the country.
The CMD also commended Deputy Governor Idahosa for facilitating the Federal Government’s allocation of a modern emergency ambulance to UBTH.
She explained that the ambulance is more than an ordinary emergency vehicle, describing it as a mobile operating theatre equipped to provide critical interventions to trauma patients while they are being transported from accident or emergency scenes to the hospital.
“What that does is that it helps us in evacuating cases of trauma from the site to where they will receive care, which is UBTH.
“Before they get to the site of care, a lot of interventions can be done within that ambulance. That is why we say it is a working theatre,” she explained.
Prof. Ize-Iyamu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, Prof. Ali Pate and the House Committee on Health for their roles in making the ambulance available to UBTH.
She particularly acknowledged Idahosa’s continued commitment to healthcare development, noting that his contributions have continued to benefit the hospital even after he left the House of Representatives to become Deputy Governor of Edo State.
She described the ambulance as a “wonderful gift” that would strengthen UBTH’s emergency response capacity and improve the chances of survival for trauma victims.
In his remarks, Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa praised the Federal Government for providing the ambulance and selecting UBTH as a beneficiary of its ambulance programme.
He noted that Edo State’s SHINE Agenda aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in prioritising healthcare and improving access to quality medical services.
Idahosa also urged President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Health to provide more projects and modern equipment for UBTH, stressing the hospital’s strategic importance and its role in expanding access to quality healthcare.
