‘Don’t undersell yourselves’ health minister tells teaching hospital staff

The Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has called on staff of Federal Teaching Hospitals and Centres across the country to market their strengths, capabilities and accomplishments in order to showcase the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to providing quality healthcare to the people.

The Minister gave this remark during a meeting with management staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife. The Minister noted that he was impressed by the feats accomplished by the centre.

He said Nigerians are unaware of the capacities of the hospitals as all they are aware of are the unpleasant happenings such as incessant strikes.

“We under sell ourselves” said the Minister. “We have some of the finest brains you can find.”

Professor Adewole also pledged to work with the Chief Medical Director to project the hospital. He said that the Federal Government was working with Sterling Bank to document the capabilities of Federal Centres so that Nigerians know what they have and can do.

Briefing the Minister earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the Centre, Professor Victor Adetiloye noted that the hospital has been able to handle several cases, which Nigerians ordinarily go abroad to attend to.

He said that the hospital has expertise for renal transplants and has trained many other hospitals on renal care. “We have provided over 600 laparascopy surgeries, we have successfully separated Siamese twins and performed 14 open heart surgeries. In this facility we conduct total hip and knee replacement surgeries among others.”

The Minister who was on an inspection visit to the facility, also commissioned a 50-bed Maternity Centre and a Pharmacy Complex completed by the institution.