Another milestone has been reached in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, by the Professor Peters led administration, as the first Safe Blood Mobile Van donated to the department of Heamatology, by Safe Blood Africa (SBA), USA in conjunction with Rotary Clubs in California USA, and a 60KVA sound proof generator donated to the Dialysis Unit by God’s Ambassador Mission International, has been inaugurated by the Governing Board of the Hospital.
In his address, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Etete Peters, noted that the Dialysis Unit is an important Resource Centre for treatment of renal diseases and the most functional in the South-South region of the country. Hence, the importance of the generator set donated to the centre cannot be over emphasized as services in the past were hampered for lack of steady power supply, but with the availability of the generator, the centre can now run 24hours services without interruption.
Professor Peters thanked the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chief Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio CON who earlier visited the unit, noting that the show of solidarity and visit showed that all efforts of Management is known and appreciated openly, as well as a pat on the back for more efforts and commitment. He also commended the department of Heamatology for all the efforts made in sourcing for donors and collaborating with other institutions to enhance the department for better service delivery.
He disclosed that the Blood Mobile Van has the capacity to efficiently take care of any form of service rendered and associated with blood drive and to store the donated blood properly. He thanked the Rotary Family for their partnership and donations to the hospital noting that other equipments were also donated in addition to the Blood Mobile Van. He enjoined other well meaning organizations and individuals to emulate such gestures as the government alone cannot do all.
The President, Rotary Club Uyo Sir Valentine Attah, noted that the Safe Blood Africa project is an international partnership project initiated by Rotn. Warren Kaufman, founder/past President of the Rotary Club of Uyo and the collaboration of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.
According to him, the project was borne out of the urgent need to expand services and voluntary blood donor programmes in Nigeria especially Akwa ibom State. The lack of blood for patients in hospitals when needed as well as the lack of blood banks either regional or hospital based, to enable the collection, testing and storage of blood and blood products in advance for when the need arises has been of serious concern he stated.
Also, the use of paid donors and the hurried manner in which blood transfusion are carried out fosters an environment where deadly viruses such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis are often transmitted from blood donors to patients and even though the patient’s life may be temporarily saved, diseases from the blood later claims their lives. As such, there is the urgent need to embrace blood donor programmes through ownership and global partnership for sustainability of safe blood in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular. He thanked the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for the responsiveness and responsibility of ownership and commitment to the project.
The Chairman Governing Board of Management, Chief Iretioluwa Onyinide congratulated the Chief Medical Director and the Management of UUTH on the new 60KVA sound proof generator and the Blood Mobile Van. He challenged all, to seek opportunities where initiatives such as this would come to other areas of the hospital.
Chief Onyinide thanked Professor Etim Essien for his notable contributions to UUTH and also thanked the donors for their show of benevolence. He assured member of staff of the continued support of the Board to move the hospital forward for services provided to the State and beyond.
