OSUN, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 – The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday canvassed patronage for Nigerian doctors, declaring their services better than their counterparts abroad.
Adewole said this during the commissioning of the Maternity and Neonatal Wards and Central Pharmacy Building at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife in Osun.
The minister commended the hospital management for the effective services rendered for the masses, charging them to publicise the hospital services for more patronage.
He dismissed speculations that the hospital’s services were limited and that it had no effective medical equipment.
He reiterated the plan of the Federal Government to provide standard healthcare for people across the nation.
He emphasised that the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) of the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to provide quick assistance especially to the less privileged. “The RRI will continue for the citizenries to benefit the more.
“Majority of the commoners that cannot afford their hospital bills will have their free medical treatment including surgeries,” he said.
One of those who benefitted from a free hernia surgery, Mr Idris Oluwaseun, lauded the federal government for treating his ailment of several years.
Also, Ms Basirat Adesiyan, appreciated the federal government for giving her the opportunity to partake in the free eye surgery and for obtaining free eye glasses.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Victor Adetiloye, acknowledged the commitment of the minister in moving healthcare services forward across the country.
Adetiloye described OAUTHC as the best hospital in the country, noting some of its achievements in surgeries to include the separation of Siamese twins and over 300 laparoscopic surgeries.
“Others include the first renal transplantation; 11 successful kidney transplantations; small incision cataract surgeries; developing the vitreo-retina surgery, therapeutic gastrointestinal respiratory and oncological endoscopic procedures performed on routine basis, and 16 open heart surgeries, among others,” he said.
The CMD, however, said that the hospital management needed fund for the welfare of the staff and equipment, calling on philanthropists to complement government efforts at taking the hospital to greater heights.
Adetiloye appreciated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for contributing highly to the development of the hospital.
He said the monarch ordered two containers of medical equipment, which he, however, said were seized by men of the Nigerian Customs Service.
Journalists report that the minister paid a courtesy visit to the Ooni who pledged his sustained support for the uplifting of the healthcare sector.
