By Ngozi Onyeakusi—Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has taken another stride in its commitment to enhance healthcare services within teaching hospitals in Nigeria with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art twin theatre suite on Wednesday at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH) as part of its Hospital Support Programme (HSP).

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang commissioned the suite. Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Diket Plang, Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District; Senator Pam Mwadkon, Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District; Kachollom Daju (mni), Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health; and Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, former member of the NLNG Board of Directors.

Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, JUTH’s Chief Medical Director and the Gbwom Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba were also among the dignitaries.

The twin theatre suite initiative is emblematic of NLNG’s broader HSP, which aims to bolster healthcare infrastructure and services across 12 Federal University Teaching Hospitals spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Launched in 2022, the HSP has rapidly gained momentum, achieving notable milestones such as the establishment of a maternity centre at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), an intensive care unit (ICU) at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), an obstetrics & gynaecology ward at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos and an intensive care unit (ICU) at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Yenagoa.

Others are an occupational therapy and neuromodulation rehabilitation centre at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, a neurosurgical and stroke centre at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, and an accident and emergency unit at UNIUYO Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

The JUTH project is one of three projects in the programme’s second phase, which commenced in January 2023.

At the commissioning in Jos, NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, represented by Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, highlighted the urgent need to address the growing deficit in medical infrastructure and stem the outflow of skilled medical professionals from the country. He underscored NLNG’s proactive intervention as a crucial step towards bridging this gap and reinvigorating investments in healthcare.

“NLNG’s commitment to elevating healthcare infrastructure mirrors our broader commitment to societal advancement. Through initiatives like the twin theatre suite at JUTH, we aim to instil confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, catalysing positive change and fostering a healthier future for all,” he said.

Dr. Mshelbila emphasised NLNG’s overarching vision to foster enhanced healthcare delivery, aligning with its mission to be a globally competitive LNG entity helping to build a better Nigeria. He urged the Federal Government and other corporate entities to follow suit in prioritising healthcare investments to ensure the well-being of the populace and drive sustainable development.

In his remarks, Governor Mutfwang stressed the importance of healthcare accessibility and sustainability in fostering societal progress. He stated that the new facility at JUTH would support access to critical surgical treatments and change the state’s healthcare narrative.

“We sincerely thank you for putting Plateau State and Jos University Teaching Hospital in line for this project. I was a patient at the hospital sometime in 2011, and I remember the queue I had to go through for the theatre. Today, the twin theatre will serve many people, and the turnaround time for the use of the theatre will be greatly reduced. Therefore, many lives would be saved. We want to thank NLNG on behalf of the North Central region,” he said.

The Governor and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health presented appreciation plaques to NLNG for its contribution to healthcare through the Hospital Support Programme.

The JUTH project encompasses a range of critical components to enhance surgical capabilities and expand access to essential medical treatments within the region. It consists of two operating theatre suites, two scrub rooms, two preparation rooms with storage, a recovery room, a nurses’ station, a pre-operations room, medical equipment and oxygen supply, firefighting and prevention systems, and automated doors for safety and access control, among other facilities. The twin theatre suite is connected to the Accident and Emergency building for easy access.

The Hospital Support Programme is a multi-billion-naira scheme by NLNG to reshape the healthcare landscape and enhance medical training within teaching hospitals nationwide. All the completed projects are already in active use.