Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the management of Edo State University Teaching Hospital, Auchi that the state government will continue to give financial, moral and technical support to the hospital to see that it attains its place in the comity of excellent that renders not just good health care but also in the capacity building.
The governor, who was represented by the commissioner for health, Dr. Samuel Ali, gave the assurance during the one year anniversary of the teaching hospital, said the state government was committed to see that the hospital become a befitting one not just a hospital where people get treated and received health care but also a centre for learning and capacity building.
He said the university teaching hospital has recorded remarkable milestones, saying the milestones are beacon of hope and excellence in the healthcare delivery.
According to him, Edo State University has been instrumental in addressing our health care challenges, such as access to good health care, reduction of maternal mortality, among others.
He said an institution like this is tasked with ensuring that we continue to excel in the area of capacity building in order to discourage the ‘japa syndrome.’
The governor commended the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Aluyor for his foresight that had made the university teaching hospital a reality.
In his brief remark, the Vice Chancellor of Edo State University Uzairue, Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, commended the Edo State first lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki for her continuous support and care, especially for the girl child.
He said the university teaching hospital had decided to name the paediatrics Complex after the first lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, for her contributions towards health care delivery in the state.
Prof. Aluyor further stated that until the Edo State University Teaching Hospital is completed, and when it is completed would be able to compete with any hospital in Nigeria and outside.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Sylvester E. Idogun thanked the state governor for establishing the first own Edo State teaching hospital, saying it was a testament of his progressive and innovative administration.
He said before the taking over as teaching hospital, the general hospital was like a mono-clinic where one doctor seeing different patients, but as of today, the teaching hospital has 42 specialist doctors attending to over 2,800 persons per month.
The CMD also stated that the hospital now offers special healthcare services to communities in obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, surgery (plastic and orthopedic), paediatrics, special baby care, ear, nose and throat, etc.
He further revealed that the hospital had also got the approval from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to train house-officers and to also commence residency training in accordance with the training programmes of the National Post-graduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West Africa College of Physicians and Surgeons.
On the infrastructure development, the CMD said the hospital has improved a lot with new Accident and Emergency Complex, Paediatric Complex, Operating Theater Complex with four operating rooms fully equipped, Obstetrics and Gynecology Complex, Baby Special Care Unit, among others.
Prof. Idogun however called on the people to avail themselves the opportunity of the teaching hospital as it has come to stay for the benefits of Edo State and Edo North in particular.
He said the one year anniversary is to create awareness of the existence of the hospital as a three day free examination and testing for prostate diseases for men above 40 years would be carried out.
Delivery a keynote address, the guest speaker, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, former Provost College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, thanked the state governor for his support and assistance to the young university and teaching hospital even in the midst of economic woes.
Prof. Iyawe whose lecture titled “Medical Education in This Time of National Financial Quagmire” called for more support and assistance as healthcare like education and agriculture touch the people most.
He said buildings do not make a first-class teaching hospital, the beauty of the structures and well laid out approach add value to the acceptance of the hospital.
According to him, a teaching hospital provides the avenue for training other health personal like nurses, laboratory scientists, radiographers and others.
Prof. Iyawe said a teaching hospital cannot be so classified if it does not have investigation tools such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT scan and Ultrasound machine. It should also have treatment modules like kidney machine, Stem Cell transplantation, Defibrillator, O² Production unit, Chemotherapy unit, well equipped ICU and Operating Theatres.
He said the number of specialties and subspecialties in tertiary hospitals is constantly increasing, which includes neurosurgery, plastic surgery, pinhole and laparoscopic surgery, invitro fertilization unit, Stem Cell (Bone marrow) transplant unit.
The guest speaker therefore appealed to the state governor to place this in his priorities by budgeting for the provision of this equipment for the smooth take off of the teaching hospital.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of award to the governor and his wife, cutting of the anniversary cake, flagging off of the three-day free examination and testing for prostate diseases for men and inauguration of Friends of the Edo State University Teaching Hospital.
