The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Edo State House of Assembly have commenced discussions on possible areas of partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving access to specialised services across the state.
The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. (Mrs.) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, received the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, and members of his delegation during a courtesy visit to the hospital.
Welcoming the delegation, Ize-Iyamu expressed appreciation to the Speaker for making UBTH the first federal institution visited in Edo State as part of his engagements with federal institutions across the state.
She described the visit as an opportunity to identify areas of collaboration that could contribute to improving healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
The CMD congratulated Idiaye on his emergence as Speaker and commended his decision to engage with UBTH on possible areas of partnership.
She explained that UBTH, a 910-bed tertiary healthcare institution, provides specialised services to residents of Edo State as well as patients referred from across the South-South region and other parts of the country.
According to her, the hospital remains committed to providing quality, accessible and patient-centred healthcare, while seeking strategic partnerships that align with its CARES mandate.
Ize-Iyamu identified drug testing, specialised diagnostic and laboratory services, and other healthcare interventions as potential areas of collaboration between UBTH and the Edo State House of Assembly.
She also proposed extending relevant healthcare interventions across the 24 constituencies in the state, particularly initiatives aimed at addressing drug abuse among young people and supporting those who provide services to them.
The CMD called for the domestication of relevant national policies on drug testing in Edo State, particularly those targeting students and young people.
She referenced the Federal Ministry of Education’s National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria, which provides for drug-integrity testing of students and regular testing within the school community as part of broader efforts to prevent substance use, identify those who may require support and facilitate appropriate interventions.
Ize-Iyamu urged the Edo State House of Assembly to consider appropriate legislation to support drug testing among students across the state, while also exploring the feasibility of incorporating drug testing into relevant pre-employment processes.
She stressed that such measures should be complemented by counselling, treatment and rehabilitation to ensure that people identified as requiring assistance receive appropriate support.
The CMD reiterated UBTH’s readiness to establish strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders, particularly partnerships capable of improving healthcare access and outcomes for residents.
She described the Speaker’s engagement with the hospital as a demonstration of purposeful leadership, noting that collaboration between government institutions and healthcare providers could help address critical healthcare needs across the state.
In his remarks, Idiaye said the purpose of the visit was to explore possible areas of partnership and collaboration between the Edo State House of Assembly and UBTH.
The Speaker congratulated Ize-Iyamu on her appointment as Chief Medical Director and expressed the Assembly’s willingness to identify areas where both institutions could work together to advance healthcare delivery and improve the wellbeing of the people of Edo State.
The visit provided an opportunity for both parties to exchange ideas and identify areas of mutual interest, with further engagements expected towards developing concrete and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Present at the meeting were the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly and member representing Esan South-East Constituency, Hon. Sunday Ojiezele Osezua; Hon. Dr. Richard Edosa Osaro, representing Oredo West Constituency; and Hon. Donald Okogbe, representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency.
Also present were members of the UBTH Management Team, including the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) and Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Emmanuel Osaigbovo; Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Research and Ethics), Prof. Adebola Ehizele; Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Grace Arheghan; and other members of the hospital’s management team.
