UCTH Honors an Icon: Professor (Mrs.) Hannah Bassey Faal at 80

MBBS, FWACS, FMCOph, DCEH, FRCOphth

On Friday, 5th December 2025, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, under the visionary leadership of Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, joyfully celebrated a living legend — Professor (Mrs.) Hannah Bassey Faal — on her 80th birthday.

Prof. Faal is an internationally acclaimed ophthalmologist and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1975). Her impact spans continents: she served as President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) from 1999–2004, contributed immensely to the global Vision 2020 initiative, and has authored over 60 influential publications that continue to shape eye-care practice worldwide.

As part of the event, UCTH unveiled the newly remodeled Ophthalmology Department, now named in her honor — a moment that moved her to tears as colleagues, family, friends, and staff gathered to celebrate a lifetime of excellence, compassion, and service.

In her remarks, Prof. Faal expressed sincere gratitude to the hospital management for the recognition. She appreciated her mentees for sustaining the vision, encouraging them to strive for excellence and become global health leaders. She also urged staff to give their best while reminding patients to take responsibility for their health and well-being.

UCTH proudly celebrates Professor Hannah Bassey Faal — a trailblazer, mentor, global voice for improved eye health, and a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.

A legend walks among us — and we honor her with gratitude and pride.

UCTH — A Re-Invention of Hope, Progress and Excellence

In 2019, Professor Ikpeme A. Ikpeme assumed office as Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). His first task was symbolic yet powerful—leading a physical cleanup of the hospital environment. He climbed ladders, cleaned fans and windows, and mobilized staff to restore dignity to a place of healing.

Social media reactions were swift and unforgiving. Many dismissed the gesture as “initial gra gra,” predicting that his leadership would amount to little. Midway into his administration, the criticisms resurfaced, louder this time, claiming the hospital was deteriorating. Yet his response remained the same—silence, faith in God, focus, and resilience.

Anchored on the mandate UCTH 2019-2027: Rebuild, Restore, Reboot… Rebrand, work continued quietly—but consistently.

Fast forward to 2025…

Before our very eyes, the New UCTH has emerged. What once looked like routine movements is now a landmark transformation—a testament that vision, consistency, and quiet work speak louder than arguments. The expectations of many have been met, and in several areas, exceeded.

Key Milestones & Achievements:

• 24/7 Electricity supply
• 24/7 Clean and treated water
• Fully equipped Radiology Department (including 1.5 Tesla MRI)
• Modern Laboratories with technical support and backup
• Major infrastructural improvements across the hospital
• Renovated Reception with granite finishing
• Upgraded Outpatient Clinics: Dentistry, FM1 & FM2, Ophthalmology, Urology, ANC & Gynecology
• Renovated Labour Ward
• World-class Intensive Care Unit & Main Theatre Suites
• Enhanced aesthetics & green spaces
• Electronic Medical Records & Health Information System fully deployed
• New clinical services (Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, Advanced Endoscopy, Stress ECG)
• First Endoscopic Ultrasound in West Africa for HPB diagnostics
• Revival of cardiac pacemaker insertion
• First Open Heart Surgery in South-South Nigeria (2021)
• ~90% accreditation across academic departments
• Re-roofing of major hospital structures
• New Department: Emergency Medicine & Trauma Centre
• International research collaborations grew from 1 (2019) to over 17 (2025)
• Completion of House Officers’ Quarters—after 32 years pending
• Construction of Molecular Lab & Isolation Centre
• Chemotherapy Day-Care Unit fully equipped
• Upgraded Accident & Emergency services
• Improved surgical productivity: 95% of booked cases executed
• Implementation of a timed appointment system
• Patient-centred healthcare culture strengthened

And many more still unfolding…

Lessons from the Journey

Every criticism became a stepping stone. Every challenge became a refining fire.

Be still. Be steel. Work. Focus. Let results speak. Negative voices fall silent when excellence begins to shine.

While much has been achieved, the mission continues. UCTH is evolving—not yet finished—but progressing boldly toward a future of healing, comfort, innovation, and hope. We welcome feedback, fresh ideas, and collaboration as we continue building a centre of medical excellence.

Welcome to the Re-Invention of Hope.
Welcome to the New UCTH under the leadership of Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme.

UCTH Nurses Hold Successful Members Capacity Development Seminar — A Step Forward in Healthcare Excellence

A glimpse into our just-concluded Members Capacity Development Seminar hosted by the dedicated and passionate Nurses of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), in collaboration with Hospitrane Training & Consulting Ltd.

Growing together, learning together, and advancing healthcare excellence remains at the heart of our mission.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), UCTH Chapter, successfully organized a highly impactful capacity development seminar aimed at strengthening nursing competence, communication, professional growth, and emotional resilience within healthcare settings.

The one-day seminar covered a range of relevant and practical topics including personal effectiveness, nursing proficiency, managing work pressure, emotional intelligence, financial management, self-improvement, and customer care in clinical practice. Certificates and learning materials were issued to participants by the training organization.

Seminar Focus Areas

• Personal effectiveness and productivity
• Nursing proficiency & efficiency skills
• Work pressure & difficult-patient management
• Customer care & relationship handling
• Counseling and communication in nursing
• Emotional intelligence
• Managing personal finances
• Self-development strategies for nurses

Empowering nurses today for a more efficient healthcare system tomorrow. 💙

66th National Council on Health Convenes in Calabar — Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Universal Health Coverage

📌 Welcome to Calabar — The Paradise City

The people and government of Cross River State warmly welcome all delegates, policymakers, development partners, and healthcare professionals to the 66th National Council on Health. We are honored to host this landmark event as leaders gather to shape the future of Nigeria’s healthcare development.

Among those who warmly received the delegates was Prof. Dr. Ikpeme Asanye Ikpeme, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), whose presence reinforced UCTH’s commitment to quality healthcare and national collaboration.

The 66th National Council on Health (NCH) was held in Calabar, Cross River State, in November 2025, gathering federal and state health leaders, commissioners, ministry officials, and development partners to evaluate healthcare progress and shape national policy direction for sustainable growth. This convention stands as a testament to Cross River State’s expanding influence in the health sector.

Discussions focused on strengthening public health financing, accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC), improving primary healthcare systems, and expanding equitable access to quality healthcare. Stakeholders highlighted innovation, investment, and strategic collaboration as priorities for improving health outcomes nationwide.

The Federal Ministry of Health reiterated commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, vaccine access, and health workforce development. States were encouraged to increase health budget allocation and adopt scalable solutions capable of strengthening health delivery across Nigeria.

Read the full story here 👉 Original Source

UCTH Nurses’ Workshop 2025( Maiden Edition)

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) hosted its inaugural Nurses’ Workshop in 2025, themed “Strengthening Public Trust through Strategic Communication: Advancing Nursing Leadership and Professional Credibility in a Complex Healthcare Landscape.” The event convened nurses, academicians, and healthcare stakeholders to tackle pressing challenges in the nursing profession.

The workshop concluded with a formal dinner attended by distinguished guests. Dr. (Mrs.) Vivian Otu, Director-General of the CRS Primary Health Care Development Agency, received the Distinguished Humanitarian Services Award for her contributions to vulnerable populations. Bishop Ofonmbuk Archibong was also honored with a Humanitarian Services Award for his regular visits and support to hospital patients.

👉 Read more

NOTICE

In line with the recommendations made by WACS and NPCMN following the recently concluded accreditation exercise and as approved by Management, the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology will now operate the following subspecilalty units structure with clinic days, ward round days(for consultants and residents), and theatre days alloted accordingly.

It is, therefore, pertinent to note units will no longer be labelled as UNIT 1, 2 and 3 any longer. Operation lists will therefore carry the new nomenclature.

UCTH Chief Medical Director Highlights Progress, Challenges, and Commitment to Quality Healthcare

Professor Ikpeme Asanye Ikpeme, CMD of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, has shared that despite resource challenges, the hospital has achieved remarkable progress since 2019. From improved staff welfare to upcoming projects like a 100-bed facility and new theatres, the hospital remains committed to delivering top-quality healthcare to Cross River State.

He emphasized the importance of creating a conducive work environment, maintaining discipline, and advocating for better policies, while expressing gratitude to the governor for supporting healthcare improvements.

👉 Read more

University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Commissions New Urology Clinic in Honour of Late Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong, Nigeria’s First Urologist

In a significant milestone for healthcare advancement in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) on the 30th of June, 2025 has commissioned a newly completed Urology Clinic in honour of the late Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong, KJW, Nigeria’s first urologist.

The state-of-the-art clinic, located adjacent to the Radiology Department, was officially opened during a ceremony attended by the late Professor’s last surviving sister and other family members, alongside an array of dignitaries and medical professionals. Among them were UCTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Innocent Abang; Deputy CMAC (Clinicals), Dr. Archibong; Former Head of department, Prof. Ekwere; Current Head of Department Prof. Akanimo Eshiet; and members of the UCTH community.

The new Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong Urology Clinics Block includes a dedicated patient waiting area, consulting rooms, a procedure room, and various support offices. The facility is designed to significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity for providing urological services with a focus on patient privacy, efficiency, and world-class clinical care.

Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong, who passed away in 2024, is remembered not only as a pioneer in urology but also as a humanitarian and teacher whose professional journey spanned Nigeria and the Middle East. His return home in his later years, to serve his people, marked a powerful chapter in his life’s mission. Speaking at the event, family members described the tribute as one that could only be done by his own people.

Beyond its clinical function, the Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong Urology Clinic will also serve as a hub for global research. It is one of only three sites in Nigeria participating in the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded MADCaP project (Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate), and the only West African site for the U.S. Department of Defense-funded HEROIC Africa 1K project—two pivotal studies in prostate cancer research.

Speaking at the unveiling, CMD Prof. Ikpeme described the clinic as “a testament to the legacy of a man whose contributions to the field of urology are truly remarkable.”

“As we dedicate this facility,” he said, “we celebrate not just a national pioneer, but also a humanitarian whose work touched countless lives. This space will be a beacon of healing, learning, and global impact.”

He further commended the contributions of architects, builders, hospital staff, and all those who brought the vision to life, while encouraging the next generation of clinicians to draw inspiration from the legacy of Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong

As part of UCTH’s tradition of honouring trailblazers in medicine, the Sir Prof. Edet Okon Nkposong Urology Clinic is expected to inspire excellence, compassion, and innovation among future urologists and medical professionals across the country.

The event came to a conclusion with accolades to the Department of Urology and the entire UCTH community for their commitment to quality care, research, and enduring legacy.

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) continues to break new grounds in her quest to provide world-class healthcare services. Under the visionary leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. IKPEME A. Ikpeme, the hospital management has recorded another major milestone with the successful installation of a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the Radiology Department.

This latest addition strengthens the hospital’s diagnostic capacity, complementing the already existing Computed Tomography (CT) scan and five (5) state-of-the-art digital X-ray machines. The acquisition of this advanced MRI technology underscores the hospital’s commitment to delivering precise and cutting-edge medical imaging for improved patient care.

MRI scans are crucial for diagnosing complex neurological, musculoskeletal, and internal organ conditions, and the arrival of this high-resolution 1.5T MRI at UCTH marks a significant leap forward in diagnostic medicine within the region. With this, patients can now access world-class imaging services right here in UCTH Calabar, reducing the need for referrals to distant centers.

The Prof. Ikpeme-led administration remains steadfast in its mission to transform UCTH into a center of excellence, ensuring that both patients and medical professionals benefit from top-tier medical technology.

UCTH is indeed on an upward trajectory, and this achievement further reinforces her status as a leading healthcare institution in Nigeria and further consolidates on Prof Ikpeme’s REBUILD, RESTORE, REBOOT, REBRAND (RRRR) mantra.

The installation of this state-of-the-art MRI scanner is a game-changer for the hospital, the people of Calabar, and Cross River State as a whole. It represents a major stride in modernizing medical diagnostics, reducing the need for patients to seek imaging services outside the state, and ultimately saving lives.

UCTH is our own!
Let’s support the management and protect our infrastructure.
To God be the glory 🙏🏽
UCTH Media & Publicity Team
18:02:2025