The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) have joined forces to inaugurate a cutting-edge Intensive Care Unit (ICU) worth $500,000. The 15-bed facility aims to address the healthcare challenges faced by critically ill patients in Edo State.
Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Dr. Darlington Obaseki, highlighted that the project is part of the NLNG hospital support programme, which seeks to enhance healthcare infrastructure and services. Obaseki expressed gratitude for the Memorandum of Understanding signed with NLNG, emphasizing that the new ICU will supplement the existing seven-bed unit and cater to the growing number of patients at the hospital.
Recognizing UBTH’s position as one of the busiest hospitals in Nigeria, Obaseki revealed that the institution receives approximately 6,000 patients weekly, admits around 450 patients every week, and handles approximately 430 emergency cases weekly. He emphasized the need for an expanded and upgraded ICU to meet the high demand for critical care.
He said, “We are among the busiest hospitals in this nation. Our weekly patient volume is around 6,000; we admit approximately 450 patients and handle approximately 430 crises.
“This indicates that our hospital is significantly oversubscribed, which speaks favorably of the kind of services we provide. Unfortunately, our seven-bed intensive care unit has become inadequate over time.
“Therefore, when we had the chance to take advantage of this Nigeria LNG hospital support program and were asked to pinpoint an issue, we recalled that we needed to make additional room in order to house more patients who were physically unwell. Then we expressed our desire for an update to our ICU to them.”
The Managing Director and CEO of NLNG Limited, Philip Mshelbila, explained that the hospital support programme was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate the projected pressure on medical institutions in managing critically ill patients. Mshelbila highlighted that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between NLNG and each teaching hospital involved in the project, establishing a framework for its implementation. The programme encompasses health intervention initiatives in 12 federal university teaching hospitals across six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
The inauguration of the state-of-the-art ICU marks a significant milestone in advancing emergency care services in Edo State, ensuring that patients in critical conditions receive the specialized treatment they need. The collaborative efforts of UBTH and NLNG exemplify the commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and addressing the healthcare challenges faced by the community.
