The Tor Tiv Prof. James Ayatse Commends Alia, Hwande for Transforming Healthcare at BSUTH

The paramount ruler of the Tiv nation and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, has praised Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande, for their efforts in revolutionizing healthcare delivery at the facility. The commendation was made during the second International Health Investment Summit and Endowment Fund for the expansion of the Therapeutic Centre, held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the BSUTH Cafeteria.

Prof. Ayatse urged staff to take ownership of the hospital and its facilities, emphasizing that negative attitudes could discourage patients. He lauded Governor Alia’s visionary leadership in appointing competent professionals like Dr. Hwande and highlighted the Governor’s donation of medical equipment worth billions of naira. The monarch also called on citizens to support the hospital’s growth.

Guest speaker and former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Prof. King David Yawe, decried Nigeria’s losses to medical tourism and commended BSUTH’s efforts to reverse the trend. He emphasized that developing medical tourism could boost infrastructure, create jobs, and curb brain drain. Prof. Yawe advocated for partnerships, collaborations, and networking to establish a sustainable medical tourism system, positioning Benue as a medical destination in Nigeria and beyond.

In his remarks, Chairman of the BSUTH Management Board, Prof. Abraham Orkunga Malu, appreciated Governor Alia for procuring modern medical equipment that would aid BSUTH’s vision of becoming a medical hub. He also presented medical equipment donated by U.S. partners. Earlier, former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Elizabeth Ugo, led a special session featuring children with special needs currently receiving care at the BSUTH Therapeutic Centre, commending the hospital’s inclusive approach to healthcare delivery.

This collaborative effort underscores a significant step toward enhancing healthcare services in Benue State, with BSUTH emerging as a beacon of hope and progress.