University of Uyo Teaching Hospital press briefing on HWN BREAKING

The attention of the Board and Management of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo had been drawn to an online publication where insinuations were made about the Hospital. We are reasonably informed that this publication is from the “Convener of Coalition of Human Right Defender”. It would be pertinent to clarify some of the insinuations in the publication.

LIGHT PROBLEM:
While we agree that University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo is facing challenges, one of these challenges is inadequate power. Recently, we had intermittent power outages in the Hospital due to sudden breakdown of the 500 KVA Generator. However, critical areas of the Hospital were powered by dedicated generators. In consequence, there was light in about 95% of the buildings in the Hospital. To forestall the power problem, a new 1000KVA generator was commissioned on Tuesday, 28th April, 2015 to further boost the supply of electricity to the entire system.

Before now, the source of power from the National Grid was from the rural 33 KVA line. The Hospital has now changed to the more reliable 11 KVA line and the line will soon be commissioned by the Ministry of Mines and Power. The lack of electricity in the Administrative Block does not in any way suggest that the entire Hospital was in darkness.

SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC:
The University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo is committed to providing the desired care for the many patients that we attend to every day. It is pertinent to mention that the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo is the choice Hospital for Akwa Ibom people. The daily turnover of patient is over 1000 in all the clinics that we run.   The over 500 beds space is 100% utilized in the Hospital. The Accident and Emergency Department for example is usually over stretched. Consequently, there is enormous pressure on the existing facilities in the Hospital.

The Hospital, though a relatively young institution is currently providing Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health care services.

The various clinics – General Out Patient Department (GOPD), Medical Out Patient Department (MOPD), Surgical Out Patient Department (SOPD), Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Eye Clinic are usually pack filled with patients.

INFRASTRUCTURE:
Following the enormous pressure on the facilities, it became necessary to embark on the construction of new buildings to decrease the pressure on existing facilities. Capital fund though currently low, has not been released for the completion of these projects. It is important to note that despite the current low funding some modern equipment have been purchased and these have tremendously improved the quality of services.

Some of the highly innovative programmes/equipment the Hospital has embarked on includes the following:

A functional state of the art Dialysis Centre with a dedicated generating set that ensures 24 hours power supply.

A 16 slides CT-Scan Machine
Blood Mobile Vehicle
1000 KVA Generator
Cold centrifuge (for fractionation of blood)
24 Body freezers in the Mortuary
PCR machine for blood testing
Echo-cardiograph Machine etc.

All the infrastructural projects awaiting completion are duly monitored by Statutory Government entity with oversight function of the Hospital. Periodic audit is usually conducted by these bodies to ensure compliance.

ATTITUDE OF PERSONNEL:
Despite the challenges, the Doctors, Nurses and other pertinent staff are committed to providing and giving the best care to all patients.

As a Federal Government Institution, the staff and management of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo are adequately motivated, whatever welfare benefit provided are in accordance to the Federal Government directives.

LASTLY:
Lastly the Chief Medical Director’s tenure has been a blessing to the Hospital vis-a-vis the development in infrastructure and the equipping of the Hospital to a standard comparable to any Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. The Hospital now has more modern structures and equipment, and on daily basis efforts are being made to improve on the services provided.

[MANAGEMENT]