We’ll Make UCTH Reference Point – Prof Ikpeme
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) management says no efforts will be spared in repositioning the health institution as a reference point in effective service delivery to the Nigerian public.
This is as the management also expressed its resolve to constantly motivate; reward; and appreciate deserving staff and departments working hard to restore public confidence in the hospital system.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital, Professor Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, gave the assurance in Calabar while chatting with journalists on the occasion of his one year in office which also coincided with the media tour of UCTH’s newly set-up Isolation Centre for coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment.
According to him; “In the last one year, we have focused on charting a pathway for growth for our hospital. We inherited a dysfunctional system with lack of consumables, non-dependable power, and water supply, dirty environmental sanitation, lack of drugs and reagents, a huge debt burden and poor attitude to work amongst others.
“We set out to Rebuild, Restore and Reboot with a focus on Environmental Sanitation and aesthetics, changing attitudes, infrastructural upgrade, provision of dependable power and water supply, dependable supply of drugs and reagents and the motivation of our staff to focus on the patient-first policy, etc.”
Ikpeme, who is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, further said; “So far, we have significantly upgraded infrastructure and equipment in our Dental Clinic, Ante-natal and Gynaecology Clinic Complex, the Labour Ward Complex and Obstetric Theatres and the Main Theatre Complex. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology now has a new Triage Room.
“We have successfully transited to an Electronic Health Information Management system using the Health in-a-Box initiative created a clean serene and aesthetically pleasing hospital environment and significantly stabilized the supply of drugs in the Pharmacy. Reagents in the Laboratories, Diesel, power and water supply.”
In addition, the UCTH boss said; “We have also significantly upgraded our Laboratory and Radiology facilities, restored discipline to our system; commenced large scale production of surgical spirit, Hypochlorite Solution (Bleach), Hand Sanitizers and Disinfectants in our Pharmacy Department for internal and external consumption.”
“The Security situation in UCTH has significantly improved; new treatment/investigatory modalities including minimal access surgery and immunohistochemistry have been introduced, our Dialysis Centre has been refurbished and equipped and can now handle infective and non-infective cases; a Central Phlebotomy Unit has been created to reduce stress on patients seeking Laboratory Services and a new properly designed and located shopping complex has been constructed to replace the aesthetically repugnant open market stalls that hitherto welcomed visitors to or hospital.”
On measures aimed at addressing the hospital’s environmental challenges, the CMD said; “We have undertaken channelization works with major drains and culverts construction to address the perennial erosion problem that threatened our facilities and a secure visitors’ car park is at an advanced stage construction.
“Our Medical Library has been significantly upgraded and we have established mutually beneficial partnerships with external bodies.”
Acknowledging that challenges still exist in the task of making the hospital a reference point in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery. Prof Ikpeme said the management team would not relent in their efforts to adequately address all existing and emerging challenges towards providing the very best in medical services to members of the public.
He also appreciated all the support that have come the way of UCTH so far, saying; “We recognize and applaud God Almighty, the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Board of Management and all staff whose support and guidance have helped us record these modest improvement in our service mandate.”
