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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The management of Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) has set up a Cancer Implementation Committee to work out modalities to quickly establish a cancer treatment centre in the state.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Stephen Hwande, while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on Monday, said the committee was set up barely two days after the launching of the cancer endowment fund. This was to ensure they get it right and don’t lose time in attending to the cancer needs of the people.
He said their terms of reference are to ensure the timely success of setting up the centre in the shortest possible time.
According to him, “The committee is to ensure the coordination of the activities that will lead to the commissioning, to bring in the manpower and the necessary training needs that will work and ensure that quality service is delivered.
“They are to ensure that the right vendors and the right equipment are put in place, to ensure the building and the processes of getting approval for the building and the designs meet international standards.”
Read also: Gov Alia donates N2 billion to BSUTH to establish Cancer Center
He also said the committee will ensure that companies, vendors and suppliers give them the best equipment at affordable rates. They will also network with relevant bodies and agencies to ensure that the government alone does not bear the burden of setting up the cancer centre.
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Hwande appreciated Governor Hyacinth Alia for fulfilling his campaign promises to provide the Benue people with the best healthcare system.
He said with the centre, Benue will be turned into a health tourism destination in the country. “People from Taraba will come, people from Kogi, Nasarawa and all the surrounding states will seek medical health,” he said. “When they come they will use our hotels, eat our food, use our transport systems and they will contribute to the economy.”
While noting that the average cost of treating one cancer patient is up to N1 million and above, Hwande said the cancer centre will cost an average of N10 billion.
He thanked Governor Alia, Senator Gabriel Suswam, Senator Akaagerger, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the House of Representatives member for making the centre a dream come true.
He also appreciated the traditional institutions in the state, especially the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, Agabaidu John Odogbo Elaigwu, for personally gracing the event with their royal presence and making personal donations towards the centre.
He expressed gratitude to God, the management, the Local Organising Committee, and everyone who graced the summit and contributed to the endowment fund for making the event a success. He promised that the management will do everything humanly possible to achieve the set goals.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Dr Samuel Otene, an oncologist, thanked the CMD for the confidence reposed in them, saying, “This is the first time we are seeing a positive will from a state government in putting the health of the people first.”
Otene assured the government and the people of Benue State that they would bring all hands on deck and ensure that no stone is left unturned in achieving set goals.
