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Benue Hospital Starts Free Healthcare for Pensioners, Celebrates IVF Success

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 11th, 2025.

Benue Hospital Starts Free Healthcare for Pensioners, Celebrates IVF Success

The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) has launched a free medical care program for pensioners, a new initiative introduced by Governor Hyacinth Alia to improve healthcare access for the elderly in the state.

At a press conference in Makurdi, Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Stephen Hwande outlined the program, which provides certified pensioners with free healthcare services, including consultations, treatments, hospital cards, and complimentary bed spaces when admitted.

“Healthcare access has always been a challenge for pensioners,” Hwande remarked. “This intervention by the governor is designed to ease their difficulties and ensure they receive the medical care they deserve.”

In addition to this initiative, BSUTH celebrated its first successful In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) births. Two mothers gave birth to three baby boys at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, an annex of BSUTH. One of the mothers delivered twins, while the other welcomed a single baby boy.

Hwande confirmed that both mothers and their babies are in good health, praising the hospital’s team for their role in achieving this milestone, which was accomplished through eight stages over nine months.

“This is a significant achievement for our hospital,” Hwande stated. “We now offer one of the most affordable IVF services in Nigeria at a subsidized cost of N400,000, thanks to the state government’s support. The usual cost for IVF is approximately N1.5 million.”

He further mentioned that BSUTH is now one of only three public hospitals in northern Nigeria providing IVF services, with several women currently undergoing treatment through the program.

Hwande also expressed his appreciation to Governor Alia for his focus on healthcare development, citing the governor’s allocation of N20 billion to BSUTH as part of the N82 billion set aside for medical services in the state’s 2025 budget.