History of the hospital
The Hospital was established in 1930 by the Dutch Reformed Christian Mission (DRCM) of South Africa to cater for the health needs of the inmates of the then Benue Leprosy Settlement (BLS). The ownership has since changed hands twice as it was handed over to the Sudan United Mission/Christian Reformed Churches (SUM/CRC) of North America in 1957 because of the apartheid policy in South Africa, and finally to the NKST or Universal Reformed Christian Church in1985 till date.
The Hospital has expanded its scope of services to include Orthopaedic (Surgery, Physiotherapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Clubfoot Clinic and Nursing services) and other Medical services. The Hospital also offers other rehabilitative services such as Community Rehabilitation, Out-reach/Mission.
Services features
- It serves as a central referral centre for orthopedic services in middle belt Nigeria from 193 –
- Clubfoot Clinic: It serves as the pioneering centre for clubfoot management in Nigeria.
- It serves as a training centre for nursing students from the nursing department of Reformed University of Zwolle, the Netherlands for their usual 3-6 months practical training until the security situation in the country worsened (2007- 2012).
- Serves as a practical training centre for students from NKST School of Nursing and Midwifery, NKST College of Health Technology (Community Health Students, Pharmacy Technician), NKST Len Gabrielse School of Medical Laboratory Sciences from 19... till date.
- It served as a training centre for Physiotherapy students from the following Universities; University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
- It serves as a training centre for Prosthetic and Orthotic from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri since 2012. And also serves as an approved centre for graduate of Prosthetics and Orthotics for internship programme.
- We have quality partnership with the following NGO’s; Netherlands Leprosy Relief Association (NLR), Christoffel Blinded Mission (CBM), Devaneste...the Rotary Club International, Miracle Feet, Ponsenti…, and the Benue state government.
- We partner with the National Programme on Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control as well as the Benue State TB and Leprosy Control Programme as the State Referral Hospital…