BENIN CITY – THE Edo state governor, Sen. Monday Okebholo has been urged to collaborate with federal government tertiary health institutions in Edo State to improve healthcare delivery with the sharing of resources, expertise, and knowledge to enhance the quality of healthcare services in the state. This collaboration would overcome deficiencies in the state health system, especially its workforce.
A renowned health expert and the Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital Benin (NOHB), a newly established tertiary health institution for the South-South geopolitical zone, Dr Philip Ugbodaga made the recommendation at a policy dialogue on healthcare delivery organized by Policy House, an international policy think-tank, in collaboration with the Edo State government as part of its first 100 days in office.
According to Ugbodaga, “it is absolutely inconceivable that Edo State with about 500 medical specialist personnel in the Federal government tertiary health institutions in the state would be struggling to meet specialist manpower needs in the various general hospitals across the state.
“It is my honest expectation that the listening and practical governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo will enter into discussions with the heads of federal government tertiary health institutions in the state with a view to fashioning out a robust framework for collaboration in such a way that specialist skills are taken to the state government rural hospitals with some incentives worked out for interested personnel.
Ugbodaga emphasized that, “overall, a collaborative effort between the Edo State government and federal government tertiary health institutions can lead to improved healthcare outcomes, increased access to healthcare services, and enhanced quality of life for residents in Edo State and ultimately in Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
Ugbodaga who is a former chairman of the Edo state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and former Medical Director of the state-owned Central Hospital in Benin City as well as Special Assistant to the Immediate Past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning insisted that breaking the walls and barriers between the federal, state and local government healthcare services is a practical way to bridging the gap between the three layers of healthcare in Nigeria through effective collaboration between the three tiers of healthcare delivery system in the states.
The policy dialogue had in attendance the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Barrister Musa Ikhilor, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, Permanent Secretaries, former Chief of Staff to Edo State government and Executive Director of Policy House, Chief Taiwo Akerele, a UK-based international patient safety advocate, Professor Sonny Isemede, Barrister Felix Isere, Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, policy experts and leaders of the Edo Civil Society Community, amongst others
SOURCE: VANGUARD NEWSPAPER
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