July 19, (THEWILL) – The establishment of a cancer centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi has received a major boost with the cash donation of N2 billion by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor, who made the donation at the International Health Investment Summit and Scientific Exhibition and Endorsement Fund for the establishment of a cancer centre ceremony in Makurdi, decried a situation where over 79,000 deaths were recorded in the country over cancer ailment.
According to Governor Alia, on the assumption of duty, he approved the recruitment of 500 staff in hospitals to address cases of shortage and unemployment.
He commended former governor Gabriel Suswam for accepting to chair the event, saying Benue’s interest is most paramount irrespective of party affiliation.
The Governor also thanked international companies and experts for their contribution to addressing health challenges, especially the cancer menace in the state, saying the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Hwande, has proven his capacity to move the medical facility to the next level.
Speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Senator Gabriel Suswam, who also donated N2 million, said Governor Alia is changing the negative narrative that nothing good will come to Benue State.
Senator Suswam decried the divisive tendencies among the political class which has brought the state backwards and called for a change of attitude for the development of the state.
The Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, and his Idoma counterpart, John Odogbo, all endorsed the quality of services Governor Alia has brought to Benue State in the past one year, pledging to mobilise their subjects to key into it.
Earlier, the CMD of BSUTH, Dr. Stephen Hwande, commended Governor Alia for showing interest in the development of the institution through adequate funding and staff recruitment.
He stated that the idea of the summit and fundraising was to add to what is on ground, noting that with the upgrade of facilities, North Central and Nigeria will be attracted to Benue, thereby ending medical tourism.
The highlight of the ceremony was fundraising for the establishment of a cancer treatment centre with companies, traditional institutions, and individuals donating huge sums of money.
