Benue University Performs IVF on 25 Women

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Dr. Stephen Hwande, has said the university will be performing Invitro fertilisation (IVF) on 25 women in the hospital.

Hwande, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on recent achievements at the hospital, said the hospital has recruited neurosurgeons, pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, doctors and nurses as well as other staffers.

The CMD revealed that one of the first things he did when he assumed office was to take stock of the manpower needs of the hospital.

He said the human resources to drive the hospital in key areas was not there.

The CMD said: “We needed to have neurosurgeons and now we have two neurosurgeons, we needed pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons among others, and because we have got a pediatric surgeon, we successfully operated a child with tongue tumors on March 26, 2024. In the past, such cases were referred to Jos or Abuja.

“Now, we have pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and in this recruitment process, we have been able to bring in ophthalmologist, optometrists, dentals, including physiotherapist, radiologists and all cadres of staff have been employed.

“We employed about 140 nurses and over 60 doctors. So within the budget of the hospital, we have employed 400 staff members into the Teaching Hospital as approved by the Government of Benue State.”

Hwande noted that the distribution is fairly even as the staff members were recruited from the three senatorial zones of the state to ensure that every sector, tribe, and religion were carried along, adding that even non indigenes  from Bauchi, Borno, Enugu States among other were also recruited on merit.

He explained that from the workforce, the state government would run the Muhammadu Buhari Sector Annex and carry out other functions they intend to do.

The CMD appreciated the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, for approving the recruitment of over 400 staff at the hospital and fulfilling part of his campaign promises to take the youths off the streets and reduce unemployment.

Hwande also disclosed that the hospital has already recruited 25 women with infertility for IVF services in the first batch.

“So the hospital’s first batch of IVF will be in April to May, and 25 women have been recruited. We are going to run that at the Muhammadu Buhari Annex, and the governor has directed that the services should be subsidised for these women in this first batch.

“They are already in process and it will be completed, and by April to the first week of May, we will have 25 women go through assisted reproduction.

“Usually, IVF processes are very expensive, and for us to start it in the public sector is commendable because in the country you may not find up to five teaching hospitals that are involved in IVF,” he stated.

He expressed joy that with the service, BSUTH will soon be put on the map of teaching hospitals that are involved in such.