By steve anyebe.
Unarguably the greatest point of attraction and reverence in Benue State since the beginning of 2024, has been the JUDITH OGWA OBLA MEMORIAL KIDNEY CENTRE, located in the premises of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Otukpo(FUHSOTH), the former General Hospital.
The state-of-the-art edifice, and its sudden appearance on the health horizon of the area has, no doubt, attracted people, individually and in groups, and propelled visitors to the place to essentially find out what the place is all about.
No wonder, then, that a group of students from A’abusa International Comprehensive College, Otukpo, recently visited the Kidney Centre on excursion. Received by Elder Michael Ubah Obande, Director General of Godwin Obla Foundation, donors of the Kidney Centre, the students were handed over to some Nephrology staff who officially took them round the imposing facility to get them acquainted with the various departments and their functions.
Elder Obande had earlier briefed the students and their accompanying Staff on the vision, mission, and core functions of the Foundation.
During their tour of the facility, the students had very lively interactive sessions with the health professionals and practitioners who took time to explain such issues as the place, functions, and importance of the Kidney in the human body; habits that can lead to kidney problems; how to keep the kidney healthy and avoid endangering it; the consequences of a faulty kidney; the importance of reporting symptoms early and importance of proper tests and correct diagnosis. They were also taught the dangers of self medication and why they should avoid wrong peer groups.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof Innocent AO Ujah, mni, OON, NPOM, who met the A’abusa students and their Tutor, Mr Agbo Audu, was so impressed by the interaction with them that he invited them to visit the take-off site of the University at Otada also.
Present at the JUDITH OGWA OBLA MEMORIAL KIDNEY CENTRE to introduce the students to the facilities there included Prof Monday Ogiator, Consultant Nephrologist; Prof Joseph Okopi, Dean of the Faculty of Science at FUHSO; Nephrology Nurses Ene Lucy Audu and Chidi Kelechi; Laboratory Scientists Juliet Ankar and Joeleen Mercy Attah; as well as Onche Mandela, the Bio-Medical Engineer.
The JUDITH OGWA OBLA MEMORIAL KIDNEY CENTRE was built by the Godwin Obla Foundation in memory of the late wife of Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, and donated to the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo. Late Judith Obla died in the United States of America three years ago due to kidney related complications. The Centre, which started full operations, including dialysis services, a year ago, has turned around the medical status of Benue State so positively, as patients with kidney problems no longer have to travel far out to other States.
