University of Benin Teaching Hospital

University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) is a multi-specialty healthcare provider in West Africa^[1], located in Ugbowo, Benin City. The hospital was established on May 12, 1973, following the enactment of Edict No. 12 under the Nigerian National Health Act^[2][3][4]

University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Aerial view of the entrance to the hospital's administrative building
Geography
Location	Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Coordinates	6°23′26″N 5°36′44″E
Organisation
Funding	Government of Nigeria
Type	General, Multi-Specialty Teaching Hospital
Affiliated university	University of Benin, Nigeria
Services
Emergency department	Yes
Beds	910
Helipad	Yes
History
Opened	1973
Links
Website	www.ubth.org
Lists	Hospitals in Nigeria

University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin

As the sixth of Nigeria's first-generation teaching hospitals, its establishment was intended to complement it's sister institution, the University of Benin, and to provide secondary and tertiary health care to the then Mid-Western Region (now Edo and Delta States) and its environs. The hospital also offers facilities for the training of high- and mid-level health care profession for the health industry.^[5] UBTH spearheads research opportunities for university lecturers and other researchers studying economic morbidity and related healthcare issues ^[6][7]

Through the Community Health Centres in Ogbona and Udo, and the General Practice Clinic which was established later, UBTH also provides primary health care services to the surrounding communities.^[8][9] University of Benin Teaching Hospital offers internship training program for medical professionals across various fields including medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, medical laboratory science, nursing, radiography, dentistry, nutrition and dietetics, and other health care professions.^[10][11]

History

The concept of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) originated in 1969, spearheaded by Colonel Samuel O. Ogbemudia, the then Governor of the Midwestern State of Nigeria, and Prof. Tiamiyu Belo-Osagie.^{[citation needed]} The plan to establish a modern medical centre in the Midwestern Region of Nigeria was conceived after the governor privately visited the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.^[12]

A few months later, an Advisory Committee for the Midwestern Medical Centre was established with Prof. H. Oritsejolomi Thomas as chairman. Other members included Prof. Tiamiyu Belo-Osagie, Prof. Alex Eyimofo Boyo, and Mr. O. I. Afe, who served as Secretary to the Midwestern Military Government and Head of Service.

Within the same year, the committee awarded the hospital's construction contract to Costain (Nigeria) Limited and with funding provided jointly by both the Government of the Midwestern Region and the Federal Government of Nigeria.^[13] Other prominent individuals who played key roles in the hospital's establishment from construction to it's opening included Dr. Irene E. B. Ighodaro, Prof. Glyn O. Philips, Dr. A. E. Ikomi, Dr. F. O. Esiri Infirmary, and Mr. J. O. Iluebbey.

The Midwest Medical Centre was renamed University of Benin Teaching Hospital during a budget speech by Colonel Samuel O. Ogbemudia in April 1972.^[14]

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital is currently led by Darlington E. Obaseki.^[15][16][17]

Notable people

• Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire
• Darlington E. Obaseki, Professor of Histopathology and the sixth Chief Medical Director of the Hospital.