KEY POINTS
- UCTH emergency unit targets medical tourism reduction.
- MRI and ICU upgrades boost specialized treatment capacity.
- E-library gives staff and students global medical access.
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) is rolling out a modern emergency unit designed to handle complex cases and reduce the outflow of patients seeking treatment abroad.
Dr. Innocent Abang, Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, highlighted the upgrades during a facility tour with journalists on Thursday. He said the project, overseen by Chief Medical Director Dr. Ikpeme Ikpeme, represents one of the most ambitious transformations in the hospital’s history.
UCTH emergency unit strengthened with new technology
The new unit will consolidate emergency services across medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics. UCTH has already acquired a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine. One of only a handful available nationwide, making complex imaging procedures more accessible.
Intensive care and surgeries get major upgrades
Abang said the Intensive Care Unit has been upgraded with automated machines to handle critical cases. The hospital now performs advanced orthopedic and minimally invasive surgeries, including ACL repairs, arthroplasty, and hip and knee replacements. Plans are also underway to introduce shoulder replacement procedures.
From too many people to more e-library space
To deal with long-standing problems with too many people, UCTH has put in place a tight appointment system that makes it easier for patients to get care. Staff are undergoing regular ethics and legal training, while SERVICOM desks have been placed across the hospital to receive complaints.
Beyond clinical care, the hospital has benefited from a federal solar initiative that ensures near-constant power. The medical library has also been transformed into a digital hub with access to more than 75 million e-books and major global medical journals.
