Health ministry pays unscheduled visit to inspect UCH facility

PERMANENT Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Funso Adeniyi, in a bid to ascertain challenges being faced in fulfilling the mandate of providing healthcare services, research and training, paid an unscheduled visit to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Adeniyi, who was received by the hospital’s management led by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Jesse Otegbayo, said he was at the hospital to have a first-hand appraisal of the situation at the medical facility.

He was conducted round the hospital, where he inspected state-of-the-art 64-slice CT and Mammography suite, the Main Theatre suites, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), West 3 Ward and the Private Suites ward.

The permanent secretary also visited the Accident and Emergency ward, ongoing Accident and Emergency extension, oxygen plant, ongoing construction of House officers’ hall of residence and the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre.

Speaking after the visit, Adeniyi said, “I have gone round the hospital and I must confess that UCH remains the first and the best teaching hospital in the country, because the institution has strived to sustain that position through dedication and commitment of its workforce, despite the financial challenges and acute personnel shortage it faced.

“Despite its situation, the hospital has continued to pioneer many feats in research and training. I, therefore, advise the general public to consider UCH over medical tourism.”

He expressed satisfaction with the state of the hospital, attitude of staff to work and the tidy premises.

Adeniyi pledged the government’s continued support for the health sector, saying that the Federal Government will not rest until it addresses the brain drain in the sector.

Professor Otegbayo expressed delight at the visit, while appealing to the government that the hospital needed to be adequately funded for optimal performance to be maintained.