By Egufe Yafugborhi

PORT HARCOURT – STAKEHOLDERS have described the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Center for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR) as a milestone in medical science development and healthcare delivery.

The Center, unveiled in Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday by the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof Owunari Georgewill, was funded by the World Bank, the French Development Association with support from the Association of African Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria ACE Impact Fund.

Center Leader, Prof Daprim Ogaji, told stakeholders that, “The ACE-PUTOR serves as, “A regional center to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary research with reputation for excellence, support teaching, learning and assessment for students, provide uninterrupted research and learning calendar for local and international students.

“It is made up of five smart (internet-enabled) classrooms, uninterrupted power, five laboratories including lab for clinical simulations, the way of doing things now. We have 15 furnished staff offices, aside three project offices to host international collaborators in joint projects and video conferencing to host people from anywhere in the world.

“The Center is structured to be self sustaining. Current investment is in the region of N1.5Bn including equipments. This is a plus for the Uniport. As a Center of Excellence, we believe we have made remarkable progress along our core mandate since inception November 2018.”

On the edge the center has in the fields of Public Health and Toxicological research, Ogaji noted, “Some equipment we have here are quite unique, like the Clinical Skill Lab. We have one in UPTH but not as equip as what we now have here. What we have in UPTH is more digital, people come to see pictures. Now, people will have real simulators to work with.

“We also have the Digital Skill Lab. We have it on ICT, but within this ecosystem, that is Public Health and Toxicology, this is the place to be. And it is open to students, the reading commons. A week from now, the World Bank team will come and little things still left undone would have been closed out.”

For fulfilled Vice Chancellor, UNIPORT, Prof Owunari, the beauty of the facility is “that learning, teaching, research will take place in a very conducive environment. I thank all the sponsors. We are glad it is happening now.”