From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
The Chief Medical Director, (CMD), Benue State University Teaching Hospital, (BSUTH) Makurdi, Dr Stephen Hwande, has disclosed that the hospital’s theatre has been fully developed for minimal access surgery also known as endoscopic surgeries.
The CMD, who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the hospital in Makurdi, said the hospital has entered into collaboration with Association of Endoscopic Gynaecologic Surgeons for the purpose.
Recall that following state government approval for new recruitment, the hospital employed about 400 staff in different departments including surgeons.We will also start it in the public sector
Hwande said based on the manpower also, “we have developed our theatre fully for minimal access surgery or endoscopic surgeries. We will start it in the public sector.
“Minimal access, like the name goes, you don’t cut people open, you just go in like a pin and you will carry out extensive surgery which is the same as cutting people widely open.
“So we have already acquired the equipment for the surgery and it’s fully installed in our theatre and we have entered into collaboration with Association of Endoscopic Gynaecologic Surgeons.
He said the first batch of this activity for gynea will commence in April 15, 2024.
According to him, the recruitment of the patients will be from the Teaching Hospital and other hospitals around the state and beyond.
He explained that the process would also aid in training the members of the surgeons, the gynaecologists, saying “those that has interest from other hospitals will also be trained in this minimal access/endoscopic surgeries.
“So cases like fibroid, ovarian cyst among others would be done for patients who do not want open surgery, you can now have the minimal access surgery done in the teaching hospital now.
Hwande who said the recruitment process is already on urged the media is to ensure that the persons in Otukpo, Gboko and elsewhere, that wants minimal access and doesn’t want scars get this information.
“This is almost like a scarless surgery. Tell the people to come and register with us preparatory for the with surgery.
He also informed that the hospital, as a center of excellence is supposed to do training, quality healthcare and research.
He said the management is upgrading the two already existing schools; for Health Information and Records Management System and Biomedical Engineering School to reposition them for training of health workers.
The CMD noted “The teaching hospital is not just to produce doctors and consultants, it is also expected to produce middle class healthcare workers like grade 2 Community health officers, physiotherapy technicians, health records among others.
“All these people are supposed to be trained by the teaching hospital including specialization in nursing to have pediatric nurses, psychiatric nurses, orthopedic nurses, you need renal nurses for dialysis, you need ICU nurses as well as truama nurses.
“Biomedical Engineering School will train people to maintain medical equipment. We have set up machineries to improve on the school of Biomedical Engineering. This will prevent us from going to other places to seek help to maintain our medical equipment.
“We have already visited the regulatory body for Community Health Officers, (CHO), we can run diploma and degrees at those points. We are hopeful that
From April 2024, we will start selling forms for candidates who want to do the CHO programme with us,” he said urging interested candidates to apply.