Over ₦4 million has been paid for patient care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) by Mrs. Osaretin Idahosa, the wife of the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Mrs. Idahosa clarified that the Yuletide season served as the inspiration for the gesture, which was intended to give the recipients—especially nursing mothers—hope and a sense of community. “The gesture was a way to spread goodwill during the festive period,” she said.
The story of Amenze Ikponmwosa, a nursing mother who had been left by her husband after giving birth to twins, was among the most heartwarming. Mrs. Idahosa gave Ikponmwosa a financial token to help her launch a business in addition to paying her ₦1.2 million bill.
The hospital’s management, including Chief Medical Director Prof. Darlington Obaseki, welcomed the Deputy Governor’s wife, who praised the medical personnel for their welcoming treatment of patients. Mrs. Idahosa also gave away gifts to senior patients and nursing mothers to make their holiday celebrations more joyful.
The condition of certain infants in the special care baby unit, some weighing as little as 0.8 kg, was brought to light during the visit by Dr. Ogoh Efeturi, Senior Registrar of the Paediatrics Department.
“To stabilize their health, these babies would need special care for up to 26 weeks,” he stated. Mrs. Idahosa informed hospital management that the present administration is committed to raising people’s quality of life.
In appreciation, Prof. Obaseki and Dr. Esohe Ogboghodo, Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee on Research and Ethics, both commended Mrs. Idahosa for her selfless act, with Dr. Ogboghodo noting that her gesture had rekindled hope for women in line with the state’s “New Edo Rising” vision.
