The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, has pledged the support and collaboration of the State Legislature to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in combating alcohol, drug and substance abuse.
Rt. Hon. Idiaye made the commitment when he led principal officers of the Assembly on a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director, Prof. (Mrs.) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, and UBTH Management. Discussions focused on the recently commissioned Drug Testing Centre and possible legislative support for compulsory drug testing for students in secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as commercial drivers in the State.
The Speaker explained that the Assembly, having recently inaugurated a new leadership, was visiting Federal Government parastatals across the State to familiarise itself with their operations and explore opportunities for collaboration. He congratulated the CMD on her eventful first year in office and commended her for the improvements at UBTH. He assured the Hospital Management of the Assembly’s cooperation.
The CMD congratulated Hon. Idiaye on his recent emergence as Speaker of the State Assembly and briefed the delegation on recent improvements in UBTH’s healthcare services, medical equipment and infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art Special Investigation Unit, Multi-Faith Centre, expanded Mortuary Complex, 160-slice CT machine and ultra-modern Oncology Centre.
She emphasised the importance of collaboration between healthcare institutions and policymakers in addressing public health challenges, noting that combating alcohol, drug and substance abuse requires prevention, early detection, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, public education, and appropriate policy and legislative interventions.
The Speaker was accompanied by Hon. Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, House Majority Leader; Hon. Dr. Richard Osaro Edosa, Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House Committee on Health; and Hon. Barr. Donald Okogbe, Chairman, House Committee on Education.
UBTH Management staff present included Dr. Emmanuel Osaigbovo, CMAC; Jim Uwadiae, Esq., Director of Administration; Dr. Philip Osho, DCMAC Clinicals; Prof. (Mrs.) Adebola Ehizele, DCMAC Research and Ethics; Mrs. Grace Arheghan, Director of Nursing Services; Mrs. J. J. Oyakhilome, Head of Human Resources; Mr. James Esam, Head, Department of Finance and Accounts; Mrs. Helen Asekome, Head of Internal Audit; Prof. M. N. Chukwuma-Oghomi, Coordinator, Dental Services; and Mr. Nosa Ogbevoen, Head, IPPIS Unit.
The visit featured the presentation of copies of a book on drugs and substance abuse to the Speaker and his delegation, as well as a commemorative souvenir presented to the Honourable Speaker by the CMD.
The visit underscores the importance of strategic institutional collaboration in strengthening public health interventions and addressing alcohol, drug and substance abuse in Edo State.
