In honor of the late Judith Obla, who passed away from kidney-related disease, the Chief Godwin Obla-founded non-governmental organization Obla Foundation has presented a well-constructed and outfitted ultramodern kidney center to the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo.
Six dialysis machines and other top-notch amenities are included in the facility, which is the first of its type in the Benue senatorial axis. It is designed to meet the demands of patients with renal illness as well as offer simple and economical healthcare services to residents of the community.
Speaking at the facility’s commissioning and transfer to Federal University Otukpo management, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), Chairman of the Foundation, said kidney patients in Benue State, specifically in Otukpo LGA, can now receive treatment at the Otukpo University Teaching Hospital at reasonable costs.
He claimed that complications from diabetes caused his wife’s kidney failure and that she died as a result. He noted that while his wife bravely battled the primary illness and its effects on other secondary consequential illnesses, the lack of facilities and its effects on his people were obvious.
“After she passed away, I felt responsible for contributing to the cause through my foundation. I committed to donating a facility within a year that will give our people access to fundamental dialysis services. We have transitioned from being a center for training, services, and research to offering dialysis only.
Obla stated, “The center currently has six brand-new dialysis units with manufacturer’s warranties, two intensive care beds to accommodate for unanticipated emergencies arising from service delivery, laboratory, laundry, various medical equipment to meet various needs, and room for dieticians and social workers among other things.
He commanded the University to uphold a rigidly clinical governance structure and agreement and to provide understanding, quantitative services free of any sort of bias, including tribalism and nepotism.
He said that the foundation has decided to enter into an arrangement with the university to establish an endowment of forty million naira (N40) for various categories of rewards for graduating students in order to promote academic excellence. The foundation has also decided to donate the health facility to the institution.
State deputy governor Engr. Benson Abounu, who spoke at the facility’s handover, praised Chief Obla for building a platform that would improve the wellbeing of many people and called the donation a “wonderful gesture.”
He exhorted other good-hearted people to return to humanity.
He revealed that in order to advance teaching, learning, and research activities at the university, the state government had been successful in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health for the complete conversion of Otukpo general hospital into Federal University of Health Science Teaching Hospital Otukpo.
In his welcome speech, the university’s vice chancellor Prof. Innocent Ujah praised Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) for the honor bestowed upon the institution and noted that this was the first time a university founded in less than two years would be growing with such a facility.
Prof. Ujah advised Nigerians to emulate this in other institutions and clinics around the nation in order to save a great number of lives.
He thanked the donor for beginning a 40 million naira endowment for the institution’s pupils.
The deputy governor-elect of Benue State, Chief Sam Ode, as well as Senator Abba Moro, who represents the Benue south senatorial district, and Och’Idoma HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Obagaji also praised the donation as a significant achievement for the state’s health care system.
In addition to praising the foundation, they commended Chief Obla for his humanitarian work and asked others with like views to take on the challenge because the government cannot do it alone.
