From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
In order to bring quality healthcare closer and more accessible to the people of Edo North in particular and Edo State in General, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has flagged off a three-day free medical outreach for the Edo State University Teaching Hospital Auchi.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Auchi, the Deputy Governor, represented by Mrs. Josephine Eshemohai Ozor of the Ministry of Finance and Budget, thanked the State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for the upgrade and concession of the former Central Hospital Auchi, to the Edo State University Teaching Hospital Auchi.
Com. Shaibu said the upgrade of the hospital became imperative in order to offer quality medical services to the people of the community and its environs.
According to him, the state government had embarked on upgrading the general hospital to a teaching hospital with the state-of-the-art equipment and urged the community to make good use of the facilities by making themselves available for the free medical exercise.
“I want to call on the residents of Auchi community and host community to access the teaching hospital as quality doctors and facilities have been provided in the hospital for their care”, he said.
On the part of the Chief Medical Director of the Edo State University Teaching Hospital’, Prof. Sylvester E. Idogun, acknowledged the magnanimity of the state government towards making the dream a reality, stressing that the goal to keep upgrading the hospital until it meets an enviable standard must be sustained.
Prof. Idogun said the hospital is to train medical personnel which have been upgraded from one unit to four units with specialised services.
“Today marks the transition of Edo general hospital to Edo University Teaching Hospital, the idea is to train students and render quality health services to residents of the area,” he said.
Prof. Idogun however promised that the hospital will be open for twenty-four hours every day with efficient medical practitioners and appealed to the community leaders to help guide and protect the facilities for maximum delivery of quality services.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of Edo State University Uzairue, Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, said the quality of equipment in the Teaching Hospital will enhance the functionality of the hospital and improve the capacity of the personnel to deliver quality healthcare to the people.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Edo State University Uzairue has so far employed about 26 full-time consultants, and 25 Honorary consultants in different areas such as pathology, pharmacology, obstetrics, neuro and plastic surgeons amongst others.
“The teaching hospital now have a state-of -art-functional facilities to provide world class healthcare services to Edo people”, and thanked the state government for the handing over of the hospital to the institution.
Prof. Aluyor said the medical outreach is part of the social responsibility of Edo university to give back to the community and to create awareness of the upgrade of the hospital to Edo University Teaching Hospital.
In a goodwill message, the Otaru of Auchi Sacred Kingdom, HRM Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, appealed to all sons and daughters of Auchi and the entire Edo North to continue in their unwavering support to make the facility serve its purpose.
The Otaru also enjoined all medical staff of the teaching hospital to show commitment and have the right attitude to work while delivering quality services to the people.
The Otaru commended the state government for upgrading the hospital to a teaching hospital.
