The Association of Resident Doctors under the Edo State Government Employment (ARD EDGE) has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for putting up a formidable mechanism in improving the healthcare sector in the state.
The president of the association, Dr Uaboi Ovbiagele made the commendation in a chat with the press on the state of the healthcare sector in Edo State.
He described the present decentralisation policy of the state government in health sector as a wonderful plan adding that the facts remain that the model that was on ground before was not really working, saying you cannot have a secondary facility and have people going there to threat malaria or cough, that should be an area where special cases should be handled.
He noted that with the new model that is on ground now, everyone can access health care from their community as there are basically health centers in every ward across the state and again the government ensures that these centers are handled by experience doctors.
On the recent recruitment of health workers, the president pointed out that governance is a continuous process and it is his belief that whoever that is coming in to take over from the present administration will sustain all the developmental strides in the health sector, adding that the governor is doing everything he can to bring in more capable hands in that direction.
“The governor is someone who is actually committed to rejuvenating the civil service and ensuring that there are adequate workers for adequate opportunities that comes up and this he is doing to ensure that the various health facilities across the state are maned by qualified and proficient health workers”.
Dr Uaboi Ovbiagele subsequently pointed out that the mass exodus of medical doctors is beyond the association, and it is basically with the federal government, something has to be done to reduce the movement of these doctors out of the country. Some of the reasons for this movement could be in the areas of poor remuneration, good working facilities, welfare of doctors, as well as making them comfortable in the work place, giving them grants and others, all these put together will go a long way to reduce the movement of doctors out of the country.
“Again, the government and the medical council have to come out with a blue print on how to curb the migration of doctors out of the country. Better welfare packages for doctors and health workers, good working conditions, grants and giving equal training opportunities for doctors and health workers are some of the measures that can cub this migration,” he said.
He noted that, like in Edo State, the governor has always ensured that the welfare of the workers in the state is of utmost priority and consideration through provision of good working conditions, motivation of the workers, training and retraining, pointing out that there is no governor that has come to the state that has trained civil servants like the way Godwin Obaseki has done, as he has completely overhauled the civil service.
On the association’s plan for medical doctors in Edo State, the president said he is trying to make sure doctors under the Edo state government get whatever is supposed to be for them in terms of welfare packages, renumeration, good working conditions and everything that every doctor deserves.
He described the governor as an astute administrator who has really improved on the health sector in Edo State.
He however clarified on the removal of central hospital, saying that at times, when there are certain changes, you have the losers and winners. The losers basically are the ones that will actually go about to make negative remarks, adding that the governor did not scrap central hospital but rather decentralised it for effective health care delivery to the people of Edo State.
Dr Ovbiagele then urged the people to desist from poor health seeking attitude and should try to come out to make use of the health facilities close to them. He subsequently advised the people to embrace the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme introduced by the government for them to access quality health care.
