UCTH achieves medical milestone with advanced brain, hip surgeries

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) is now carrying out complex surgeries locally, including brain tumour operations, hip and knee replacements, and keyhole procedures, ending the need for many patients to seek care abroad.

Chief Medical Director Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme described the shift as a move from “silent” service to visible delivery of advanced care.

“We do hip replacements, knee replacements, arthroscopy and sports medicine. We can replace your anterior cruciate ligament. We’ve got the equipment, the personnel, the training, and the space,” he said.

In neurosurgery, he said the hospital now opens the brain to remove tumours and handles spine cases. In general surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology, surgeons perform minimal access procedures, removing the uterus or appendix through 1cm incisions and discharging patients within 24 hours.

Prof. Ikpeme added that the 850-bed tertiary hospital now serves Cross River State’s population of nearly 5 million as well as patients from neighbouring states and countries including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic.

To address overstretched facilities, UCTH is constructing a new Department of Emergency Medicine facility. The structure will include trauma, medical and surgical bays, male and female wards, a children’s emergency unit, a six-bed ICU, a neonatal ICU with 26 incubators, and three large trauma theatres.

The CMD also unveiled two medical wards renovated and named in honour of Dr. Obal Otu and Prof. Nwafor Uzoma.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for investing massively in the health sector, which has made the massive transformation in the UCTH possible, saying the goal is to keep expanding facilities in the hospital to ensure Nigerians access world-class care at home.