The Imo State University Teaching Hospital was established following the emergence of the first set of clinical students of Imo State University College of Medicine in 2003.
Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu was established by section 10(2) of the Imo State law no. 9, 2004 as an e-tertiary 500 bed hospital to provide advanced medical health care delivery for Imo people and beyond.
The law setting up the hospital was signed by His Excellency Chief (Dr.) Achike Udenwa, the former Governor of Imo State, on the 22nd December, 2002.
The hospital started providing services in August, 2004 and was officially commissioned by the then President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the 20th of November, 2004 accompanied by the then Minister for Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo.
IMSUTH commenced secondary and tertiary health services; providing medical and surgical services to Imo indigenes and beyond. The hospital hosted a couple of international workshops notable amongst them was the Richard Wolf sponsored minimal access surgical workshops of December, 2005 and June, 2006 that attracted participants from all over the country.
The hospital was able to host the first accreditation visit by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in 2005 and thereafter, the National Universities Commission which guaranteed that IMSUTH can train medical students. The first postgraduate accreditation visit by the West African College of Surgeons (Faculty of Obstetrics & Gynaecology) was in December, 2005. IMSUTH has since then, accredited other faculties and training posts.
The first Board of Management of IMSUTH was comprised of;
- Sir Kelechi Azuike – Chairman
- Dr. Anaelechi B. Chukuezi – Chief Medical Director
- Dr. Alex Chukwulebe – Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee
- Prof. T.C. Okeahialam – Member
- Prof. B.E.B Nwoke – Member (rep. senate of IMSU)
- Prof. I.C. Okonkwo – Member (rep. Vice Chancellor IMSU)
- Prof. B. Jiburum – Member (Provost, IMSU College of Medicine)
- Dr. J.B. Okolie – Member (Deputy Chairman)
- Mrs. Kate Ezenagu – Member
- Chief H.I. Udumukwu – Member
- Dr. A.I. Esomonu – Member
- Dr. J.N.C. Onyegbosi – Member (Perm. Sec. Imo State Ministry of Health)
- Chief (Sir) J.T.O. Osunwa – Member/Secretary of the Board (Director of Administration)
Since establishment, IMSUTH now has and runs modern Laboratory services, Radiological services, modern Oxygen plant, Kidney and Renal Transplant Centre, an Infectious Disease Centre, etc. all in a computerized environment.
IMSUTH is a befitting and excellent tertiary healthcare facility of international standard undertaking training of high level medical manpower and providing advanced healthcare services. With its equipment, structures and layout, it is indeed A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE in healthcare delivery.