By Fely Mammah, Abuja

 

The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, has made history as the first governor in the Middle Belt region to establish a world-class Cancer Health Care Centre while also upgrading the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, to an international standard.

 

The upgraded hospital, which now functions as a tertiary health care centre, is designed to cater to patients with cancer, diabetes, and other serious ailments, eliminating the need for medical tourism abroad. It will also provide specialized care for children with disabilities, including Down syndrome, learning difficulties, and physical challenges — giving new hope to parents and low-income families.

 

According to the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kwande, the N18 billion health project is scheduled for completion in January 2026. He explained that N2 billion has already been released to the contractor, N4 billion is currently funding construction work, while the remaining N12 billion will be disbursed for equipment procurement and pharmaceutical supplies.

 

Dr. Kwande added that the hospital’s modern pharmaceutical section will source drugs directly from reputable manufacturers, ensuring affordable and accessible medication for all patients. He commended the government for consistently paying staff salaries, taxes, and utility bills, thereby sustaining smooth operations.

 

Governor Alia’s vision, he said, includes creating a five-star smart medical facility that operates seven days a week, with electronic health records accessible within and outside Nigeria — a move aimed at discouraging medical tourism and modernizing health delivery. The state government has also signed an MoU with a Chinese company to provide standard hydrotherapy equipment.

 

The governor’s healthcare initiatives follow a challenging year marked by violent attacks in Benue State that drew national and international sympathy — including from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Pope Francis. The First Lady, through her Renewed Hope Initiative, donated ₦1 billion to support the reconstruction of destroyed structures and assist displaced citizens.

 

President Tinubu also directed security agencies to swiftly bring perpetrators of the violence to justice — a move Governor Alia commended as a demonstration of national solidarity.

 

The Tor Tiv, Prof. (name withheld), has equally been praised for his firm traditional leadership and unwavering support for the governor during these turbulent times.

 

Despite challenges, Governor Alia has remained focused on his mission to rebuild Benue’s health, education, and agricultural sectors, and to restore the state’s image as “The Food Basket of the Nation.” Speaking at the 2nd International Health Investment Summit at BSUTH, the governor — a clinical psychologist by training — reiterated that “health is the greatest wealth any person can have, while education remains the best foundation for every child.”

 

Governor Alia’s administration is also working to revive the state’s economic and cultural heritage, leveraging Benue’s strategic location along the River Benue and its rich multi-ethnic identity — home to the Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Igbo, and Hausa communities.

 

He reaffirmed his determination to restore Benue’s lost glory across all sectors — from politics and infrastructure to morality and unity — anchored on faith, service, and love for humanity.