OGUN SETS UP ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL ON OOUTH

The Ogun State Government has instituted a panel of enquiry to look at the remote and immediate causes of the current challenges facing the State-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).

In a statement issued on by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Kunle Somorin said the 9-man committee is chaired by Dr Yemi Onabowale, the Chief Medical Director of Reddington Hospital.

The committee is expected to assess the operational modalities of the hospital and ascertain its compliance with acceptable standard for medical training, research and tertiray health care services.

The committee’s specific terms of reference are:

1. To assess the current operations of the hospital, in line with expectations as a teaching/tertiary institution;

2.To determine the state of facilities of the various units and departments and make recommendations to the state on the steps necessary to ensure sustainable operations in the institution;

1. Determine quick wins and palliative actions to stem further degeneration of the institution and facilities;
2. Review all third party arrangements in the institution, including the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) and other services
   provisioning arrangement and determine their level of
   compliance at the time of that engagement and with the efficacy but more especially suitability for the intent of the State Government;
3. Review and recommend programme and strategies to ensure that the operation of the hospital is self-sustaining and financially independent;
4. Any other reviews as might be critical to the long-term sustainability of the image and productivity of the institution.

To work with Dr Onabowale on the committee are:

1. Dr. Folabi Ogunlesi –
   Member
2. Dr. (Mrs) Dupe Oludipe – Member
3. Dr.Kehinde Ololade – Member
   5.Alhaji Wasiu Lawal –
   Member
   6.Mr. Olumide Obube – Member
4. Akinola Adekunle – Member
   8.Femi Akinwunmi – Member�

Deputy Director, Hospital Services in the State Ministry of Health, Dr Shokunbi Solomon will serve as the Secretary to the Panel.
While speaking at the 43rd Annual General Scientific Meeting  of the West African College of Physicians(WACP) with the theme, ” HEALTHCARE GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA” held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said that his commitment to the people of the state was to look after their welfare, adding that the state was also committed to restructuring the Health Insurance Scheme by addressing the identified lapses to make it more  efficient and affordable.

He disclosed that with the panel of enquiry on the OOUTH, the tertiary institution would be able to serve as an effective referral center to the lower tier and healthcare delivery centres.

He added that his administration was committed towards ensuring that a hospital was designated in the three senatorial district as a specialized hospital of excellence that would treat a particular ailment.

Abiodun noted that when he visited OOUT in Sagamu last month and the General hospital in Ilaro last weekend he saw that a lot needed to be done to re- position the health sector in the state.

He reiterated that the state was deeply committed to rehabilitating, equipping and staffing of general hospitals across the state.

“The Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital will serve as an effective referral center to the lower tier and healthcare delivery centers.

The governor noted that his administration would restructure the health insurance scheme to make it more effective and accessible to the people, adding that efforts would be made towards improving infant and mortality rate in the state.

Prince Abiodun also disclosed that his government would be committed to the re-training and recruitment of more medical personnel, saying that the working conditions for medical personnel in the state would be improved upon.

In his welcome address, the National Chairman, West African College of Physicians, Dr. Abel Nze Onunu noted that the time was ripe for the country to examine the impact of social ills on healthcare in the country, adding that with the increased rate of poverty, a lot of people were now turning into alternative health resolution to seek solutions to their medical challenges.

He also opined that some form of auditing ought to be done on health care professional training and practice,adding that the process would help to enhance a good human healthcare resources management in terms of availability and distribution.

Also,the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Dr. Sunday Malomo regretted that despite the fact that the country has some of the best brains as well as world class physicians and health workers, the country also has some of the worst and most embarrassing health indices, saying that it was time to collectively harness resources to run people -focused health system in an efficient manner.

In his goodwill message,, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Center, Professor Musa Olomu noted that it was time for government to intervene in the influx of the countries best medical brains to other countries,adding that it was equally important for government to look into  massive training of resident doctors to effectively provide services to the people.

Kunle Somorin
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor