Nigeria's premier teaching hospital clocks 56 years

 

 

Nigeria's premier teaching hospital, the University College Hospital Ibadan will this week celebrate its 56th anniversary with focus on the care of the elderly. The tertiary hospital is one of the most respected medical facilities in West Africa and has trained more doctors than any other hospital in the entire West African region.

To celebrate the 56th anniversary of Nigeria's first teaching hospital, the management of the hospital led by Prof. Temitope Alonge has said the theme of this year's anniversary is "Rebirth of Excellence: Caring for the Elderly."

The celebration starts tomorrow (Monday) with a press conference at 10am and hospital ground round at 11:30am, both events would be held at the Paul Hendrickse Hall of the College of Medicine, UCH, Ibadan.

On Tuesday November 19th, there would be a walk and novelty match for the CMD Cup. And on Wednesday, the anniversary will be concluded with the official commissioning of Emeritus Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi multipurpose Hall at 10am while the 56th Anniversary Symposium will be held at 11:30am.

The topic for this year's anniversary symposium is "Healthcare in Nigeria: Business or Social Service?" 

The discussants are Prof. E. Olawale Ogunkola, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ibadan, Dr. Lanre Olaniyan of the department of economics, University of Ibadan, Dr. A. O. Lawanson also from the department of economics, University of Ibadan and Dr. Charles Ademilua from Austria.

The University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan according to Wikipedia, was established by an act of parliament in November 1952 in response to the need for the training of medical personnel and other healthcare professionals for the country and the West African Sub-Region. The establishment of the Hospital was sequel to a Visitation Panel in 1951 to assess the clinical facilities for the clinical postings of medical students registered for M.B.B.S. degree of the University of London. 

The visitation panel, led by Dr T.F. Hunt of the University of London rejected the enhanced facilities provided by the Government/Native Authority Hospital at Adeoyo, Ibadan following the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine in the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) in 1948.

Since its inception, the hospital has trained over 6,000 Doctors, 501 Dentists, 4,513 Nurses, 2307 Midwives, 471 Peri-Operative nurses, 1062 Laboratory Scientist, 576 Environmental Health officers Tutors, 451 nurse/midwives/Public health educators, 326 Primary Health Care Tutors, 590 Community Health Officers, 640 Physiotherapists, 551 Health information Management Personnel (formally referred to as Medical Records Officers). 

The patients turn out in the accident and emergency (A & E) Department of the University College Hospital averages 6000 annually and about 150,000 new patients are seen in the various out-patient clinics every year. In 2001, the million clientele mark was attained. Due to its impressive facilities, manpower and track records, the hospital enjoys wide patronage of both national and international clientele.