Governor Hyacinth Alia Donates N2 Billion to Benue State University Teaching Hospital
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia donates N2 billion to establish a cancer center at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, enhancing local healthcare services.
Mary Nwaeze 
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has made a landmark donation of N2 billion to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH). The funds will be used to establish a state-of-the-art cancer center in the state, marking a significant step in improving healthcare in Benue.
The announcement was made during the International Health Investment Summit and Scientific Exhibition organized by BSUTH in Makurdi. The summit, themed “Towards Attaining a One Stop Hospital,” focused on “Demystifying and Domesticating an Ultra Modern Cancer Care in BSUTH Through Gainful Collaboration, Sustainable Health Financing: Policies, Opportunities and Financing Options.”
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Governor Alia addressed the summit, highlighting the dire need for advanced cancer care. "Cancer has claimed over 75,000 lives in Nigeria. We need new strategies and collective action to address this alarming trend," he stated. Alia reiterated his administration's commitment to enhancing healthcare services by increasing the state's health care budget and expanding access to quality medical care.
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In addition to the donation, Governor Alia announced plans to hire over 500 new staff at BSUTH to combat unemployment and strengthen the healthcare sector. "We are dedicated to improving the health sector and will use our resources wisely to achieve this goal," he added.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Hon. Amos Magaji, underscored the critical situation of cancer in Nigeria, noting that the country bears 40% of Africa's cancer burden. He stressed the importance of developing a robust healthcare system to reduce medical tourism and improve treatment options locally.
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Former Governor of Benue State, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who chaired the Endowment Fund, praised Governor Alia's initiative. Suswam urged continued bipartisan support for healthcare and encouraged contributions from across party lines, emphasizing that cancer is a non-partisan issue.
Keynote speaker Dr. Adewale Tolulope and other notable speakers, including Mr. Eric Hanqin Liu and Dr. Samuel Otene, also spoke at the event, highlighting the potential impact of the new cancer center.
This substantial investment marks a pivotal moment in Benue State’s healthcare development, promising to provide much-needed cancer treatment options and reduce the financial burden on patients traveling long distances for care.
