October 17, (THEWILL) — Former Commissioner of Education in Benue State, Professor Elizabeth Ugoh, has advocated for adequate funding for resource centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, to cater for children with special needs in the state.
Professor Ugoh, who made the statement during her presentation at the two-day International Health Investment Summit and Scientific Exhibition at the BSUTH, Makurdi, on Friday, noted that the N2 billion endowment funds, if realised, will assist in expanding the the therapeutic centre and strengthen services.
She expressed happiness that from six, 36 children are currently receiving therapeutic services at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, calling for improvement.
Ugoh, a Professor of Education at the University of Jos, Plateau state, stressed the need for bigger centre, which will have a digitised library, as well as books, games and a well-equiped playing ground for children.
The Education Specialist, also called for provision of Special school for children with special needs, hostels, accomodation, staffing, recruitment of qualified staff and retraining of Carers to be up to date.
She concluded by calling on the people of Benue to invest in the future of children with special needs who do not have the opportunity to attend regular schools.
In his keynote address, Professor King David Terna Yawe, who spoke on the topic, “Exploring the medical tourism potential at the BSUTH: prospects and challenges”, called on the management of the university to work in collaboration with foreign and other local partners to acquire necessary equipments in order to deliver services to the people.
He expressed satisfaction that people from Abuja and beyond are coming for medical attention at BSUTH, thereby, raising its internally generated revenue.
Professor Yawe, therefore, commended governor Hyacinth Alia for giving proper attention by funding services at the hospital in the past two years in office.
In his remarks, the chairman of the advisory committee, Professor Michael Agbir, commended the Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Stephen Hwande, for living up to expectation in the provision of quality and timely services.
