On Monday, the College of Medicine University of Ibadan class of 1989 donated 1 million dollars in hospital equipment to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in support of excellent healthcare delivery at the hospital.
The donation, which included specialised beds, clutches, hospital consumables, mobile ultrasound machines, and, among others, hospital equipment, was with the support of Project C.U.R.E. in the US, an NGO that collects hospital equipment in the U.S. and donates it to hospitals in developing countries around the world.
The Class President of the College of Medicine University of Ibadan class of 1989, Dr Olatunji Akintilo, who spoke at the occasion, which had other members of the class, including Professor Fatia Fehintola, Prof Taiwo Lawal, Dr Joko Adeleye, and Dr Deborah Ajayi in attendance, stated that the donation was based on a site visit in February 2020 to compile a list of needed equipment at the hospital.
Akintola, who Professor Mojisola Atalabi represented, declared the donation started as a dream and a vision to support UCH to continue to be the centre of excellence for healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“As a result of the site visit and other protocols, a container full of the donated hospital equipment was shipped from the U.S. and arrived in Lagos in October 2021. However, we had problems with the Nigerian customs to clear the container.
“We were told to pay a heavy clearance fee, and the container went into demolition. Things looked impossible. We almost gave up, but in the end, we overcame the palaver. We were able to clear the container. It finally arrived at UCH on Thursday night. We trust and believe that every item will be put to good use.”
Chief Medical Director of UCH, Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, receiving the hospital equipment, described it as the single largest donation that the University College Hospital had received in his six years of administration.
“I’m ecstatic about the donation. This is the single largest donation that we have received at the University College Hospital since the commencement of this administration. And the second reason I’m ecstatic is because it has been done by my class set of 1989, the MBBS class of the University of Ibadan.
“When I took over as chief medical director, the leadership of my class, the set of 1989 MBBS, told me that I should let them know whatever area of need that my administration would require, and they would come in. And this is not their first donation.”
Professor Otegbayo stated that the donation would go a long way to support patients at the hospital who were unable to pay their bills.
“We can leverage what has been donated and use it for such patients who are indigent. And in other ways, we can also use some of the equipment or the consumables at a subsidised rate, even for those who have some money. By doing that, many patients who would otherwise have suffered a lack of treatment or inadequate treatment will have the best of care.
“And I want to pledge on behalf of the management of the University College Hospital and the Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Professor Mohamed Ali Patti, that we will make good use of it. And the impact will be widespread on all our patients that require assistance.”
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