The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has announced that its cancer centre is now fully operational, with indigent patients able to access advanced treatment, including radiotherapy, through government-supported programmes.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, disclosed this in Benin City while receiving a newly donated ambulance from the Federal Government.
According to her, the cancer centre is equipped with modern facilities, including a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) and a 16-slice CT scanner used to simulate cancer lesions and guide targeted radiotherapy.
Ize-Iyamu stressed that the facility is not simply a completed project but a fully functional centre where patients are already receiving treatment.
She said poor patients could access radiotherapy through the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund and Social Welfare programmes under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope health agenda.
The CMD said the initiative had helped reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment and improved access to radiotherapy for low-income patients.
She also described the newly donated ambulance as a “walk-in theatre”, explaining that it would allow medical personnel to begin critical interventions while transporting accident and trauma victims from emergency scenes to the hospital.
Ize-Iyamu commended Edo State Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa for his role in facilitating the cancer centre and ambulance projects, noting that residents were already benefiting from the initiatives.
Ambulance to Boost Emergency Care
Idahosa, who presented the ambulance on behalf of the Federal Government, said the vehicle was part of broader efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery.
He explained that he attracted the ambulance project to UBTH while serving as a member of the House of Representatives representing Ovia Federal Constituency. However, delays in budget implementation prevented its earlier delivery.
The deputy governor praised the hospital’s management for its commitment to quality healthcare and expressed confidence that the new ambulance would further strengthen UBTH’s emergency response capacity.
The development is expected to provide a major boost to cancer care and emergency medical services in Edo State, particularly for patients who may otherwise struggle to afford specialised treatment.
