The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Benue State, was warmly received at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Terungwa Hwande, on a visit aimed at easing the financial burden of indigent patients. Many of these patients remained stranded by unpaid medical bills despite the ongoing industrial action at the university.
What began as a firm commitment of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,500,000) was, upon closer inspection of the wards, compassionately doubled. Her Excellency moved through the various clinical units, personally assessing the condition of patients and confronting the reality that many were held not solely by the severity of their ailments but by the absence of means. Families in quiet distress and patients whose recoveries had stalled for economic reasons left a profound impression.
In response, she directed the immediate clearance of outstanding bills for numerous patients and further extended personal gestures of support, presenting sealed envelopes containing cash assistance to those in greatest need. This dual intervention—settling institutional debts while offering direct relief exemplified a blend of administrative resolve and genuine empathy. She highlighted that the visit was a direct expression of the Governor’s vision: a governance philosophy that prioritises the most vulnerable and ensures healthcare remains accessible to the common citizen, particularly those for whom every naira counts.
In his remarks, Dr. Hwande described Her Excellency as “God-sent.” He recalled that only two days earlier she had paid a courtesy call and assured the hospital management of an imminent return. True to her word, and despite a demanding schedule that caused some missed communications earlier that day, she returned without hesitation. The Chief Medical Director expressed deep appreciation for her consistency, her presence and her unwavering commitment, urging her to continue these acts of transformative kindness that restore both health and dignity.
The visit stands as a demonstration of leadership that does not merely announce compassion but actively delivers it, where policy meets the bedside and the most forgotten are deliberately remembered. The account was issued by Demesugh Yaji, Chief Press Secretary to the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady.
