The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd.’s sponsorship allowed for the construction, equipping, and opening of a top-notch neurosurgery and stroke centre at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) in Calabar, Cross River State. (NLNG).
The project said to cost over $500,000 or over two hundred and thirty-two million naira, has 16 dedicated unit beds, two recovery room beds, one operating theatre suite, three consulting rooms, a pharmacy, sleep-in rooms, its own dedicated water supply, and alternative power backup system, among others.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, said:
“The decision to construct and equip a neurosurgical and stroke centre was based on inputs from our Department of Internal Medicine, as well as our Accident and Emergency Services, which identified stroke as the most common non-traumatic emergency in our setting.”
He added: “In furtherance of this, numerous academic publications, including Cochrane Database of Systematic reviews, have shown that ‘more organised stroke care was consistently associated with improved outcomes; and stroke patients, who receive organised inpatient care in a stroke unit are more likely to be alive, independent and living at home one year after the stroke.”
The CMD said between 2020 and now, “no major neuro-surgical case has been referred outside our hospital. We have the personnel and with this centre, additional equipment to continue to build on our objectives, we have strengthened our radio diagnostic abilities, moving from no reliable radio diagnostic equipment in 2019 when our tenure came on board to full direct digital X-rays, 4-ultrasound scanners and computed tomography services, etc; and plans to install an MRI in the hospital this year.
“In addition, we have recently added interventional radiology to our Armamentarium of services; and as of today, we are the only public health institution offering interventional radiology services in southern Nigeria.”
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who performed the inauguration, but was represented by the CMD of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Emem Bassey, said “According to the World Health Organisation, non-communicable diseases (NCDS) are collectively responsible for 74 per cent of all deaths worldwide and annually, 15 million people worldwide suffer stroke. Of these, five million die, and another five million are left permanently disabled, placing a burden on family and community.”
He added: “The NeuroSurgical and Stroke Centre will in no small way alleviate the suffering of persons suffering from such ailments and the Federal Ministry of Health is committed to supporting continuous collaboration in the health sector and encourages other organisations and stakeholders to partner with the government as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to fill gaps in the health sector in the country.”
The minister noted that over the years, Nigeria had invested in significant health financing reforms to increase resources for health and extend high-quality primary health care services across the country.
NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, represented by General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh, said NLNG’s commitment to building better health for communities in Nigeria through the hospital support programme was anchored on its belief that a healthy population was a reliable, strong and fortified block for building a better and sustainable society.
“This world-class facility being inaugurated today will, we believe, add to the well-being of Calabar and improve the city’s profile as a tourist destination,” he said.
