The Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Professor Ikpeme Asanye Ikpeme has commended the Nigerian Government for its sustained support and funding aimed at repositioning the institution as a leading healthcare facility in the country.
He said, “I commend the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Health for the support to procure the equipment in this hospital. The government has invested huge amount of money to equip this hospital. As you enter, you can see the obvious transformation yourselves. We are indeed appreciative.”
The CMD said, “We have a total of 62 clinical and non-clinical departments in the hospital. Out of these, there are 38 wards and clinics, including orthopaedic, cardiothoracic, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat), paediatric, among others.
“By the time you count all the clinics, you will realise that we have about 38 wards and clinics. As far as the wards are concerned, we have carried out either facelift projects or complete remodelling and renovation.”
According to him, UCTH remains the only tertiary health facility within Cross River State and the wider south-south region serving an estimated population of over five million people, including patients from neighbouring states and countries.
“We are an 850 bed hospital. We are the only hospital that serves a population of almost 5 million at our level. We are the only hospital that serves the whole of Cross River State at tertiary level. In addition, we get patients from neighbouring states and even get patients from neighbouring countries.
“We see patients from Cameroon, from Equatorial Guinea, even from Central African Republic. So, there are always constraints because we are the only hospital that serves that large population and that is why we are trying to increase our capacity,” he explained.
The CMD further explained that with the Nigerian Government’s support, the hospital had established a stroke centre, reactivated its dialysis unit and upgraded its radiology department to improve diagnostic and specialist healthcare services.
He further stated that the hospital had also established clinical urology clinics, upgraded its medical e-library and renovated the ophthalmology department, while expanding its capacity to carry out advanced procedures including keyhole or minimally invasive surgeries, hip replacement operations and neurosurgical procedures.
Professor Ikpeme disclosed that management was currently constructing a 150-bed Department of Emergency Medicine to further strengthen emergency response and critical care services within the institution.
He said “the facility would include a neonatal unit equipped with 26 incubators, a trauma bay, three fully equipped theatres as well as specialised paediatric, surgical and medical care units.”
“We have, in the new Department of Emergency Medicine, a neonatal ICU there. It is designed to have about 26 incubators if you know the cost of one incubator, the kind we use here, not the kind that we find around,” Professor Ikpeme stated.
The UCTH boss noted that the welfare of doctors and healthcare personnel had improved considerably, leading to the return of some medical professionals previously lost to migration and workforce shortages.
He explained that the hospital’s management was focused on creating the best possible environment for patients and staff through improved infrastructure, efficient service delivery and cost-saving measures.
As part of efforts to reduce operational costs and maintain hygiene standards, Professor Ikpeme said, “the hospital has commenced in-house production of soap, bleach and hand sanitisers, while also operating a water treatment plant.”
He added that the overall goal was to position UCTH as a centre of excellence for healthcare delivery, medical training and research in Nigeria.
