By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi has positioned itself as a one-stop medical hub for the North Central states of the country.
Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Stephen Hwande, disclosed this in Makurdi during a press conference where newly acquired cutting edge equipment were unveiled ahead of the second BSUTH Health Summit slated for October 16 and 17, 2025.
He said the hospital’s unveiling of the state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment will make it a preferred medical destination in offering world-class healthcare services that will attract patients from Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Niger, Cross River and Taraba states.
“This is not just about Benue. We are building a facility that will serve the entire North Central from Nasarawa to Kogi, Plateau, Niger, and even Abuja.
“Some of the facilities we have brought in are not available in these states. The Governor Hyacinth Alia’s vision is to make BSUTH a one-stop shop for all medical needs and reduce the trend of patients flying abroad for treatment,” he said.
Hwande noted that the radiographic new complex will house advanced imaging facilities such as CT scan and MRI units, as well as other specialised diagnostic equipment.
The CMD described the summit as a midterm assessment of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s two-year health sector reforms, emphasising that the hospital’s transformation is driven by service, not politics.
“This is about delivery, not politics. We are focused on turning BSUTH into a medical tourism destination,” Hwande said.
Meanwhile, the newly acquired equipment include incubators, IVF facilities, dialysis machines, ultra low temperature fridge and blood plasma fridge amongst others.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, said the new medical equipment are among the most advanced in Nigeria.
“The equipment here can compete with any in the country. Hospitals from neighbouring states are already showing interest. This is the kind of initiative that changes a region’s healthcare story. We must support the governor to do more,” Ogwuche added.
The commissioner represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr Beatrice Tsavmbu, noted that the ongoing expansion and acquisition of modern facilities, has placed BSUTH as the fastest emerging regional centre of excellence in healthcare.
