Available data from University College Hospital (UCH) revealed that since 2015, cancer has been the leading source of death in the hospital.
Also, another source of death along with infections included HIV/AIDS, injuries and cardiovascular diseases.
Reflecting on his eight-year tenure in an interaction with journalists in Ibadan, Temitope Alonge, the outgoing Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan said cancer has become the commonest cause of death in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He disclosed that in order to tackle the challenge, the hospital acquired two 22-channel brachi-therapy machines that are able to treat the three commonest types of cancer. He added that the machine can treat minimum of 50 patients a day.
Alonge indicated that the impression that HIV has been stamped out was erroneous because most infections were HIV/AIDS-related.
He opined that the campaign against stigmatization may have contributed to the spread of the virus again as infected people live without stigma, get more comfortable but go round to infect unsuspecting members of the public.
The Orthopaedic surgeon said he was leaving the position fulfilled because he succeeded largely in his dream of transforming the UCH. He added that his goal was to build the people, build a system and build service and infrastructures that will enable the hospital regain its status as the leading teaching hospital in West Africa. He pointed out that he succeeded in the goal, hence his feeling of fulfilment.
The outgoing CMD said he enjoyed the support of the staff and Board of Management in his efforts to transform the hospital, stressing that he was leaving the hospital better than he met it.
His successor, Abiodun Otegbayo, a professor will take over at the end of this month.
Akinremi Feyisipo,Ibadan
