The minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole has said that incessant strikes by medical personnel have overshadowed the finest brains in the nation’s health sector.
The minister, who spoke at a meeting with management staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife, emphasized that most Nigerians are unaware of the capacities of the hospitals in the country to perform wonders, adding that all they are aware of are the unpleasant happenings such as incessant strikes.
“We undersell ourselves,” he said, adding: “we have some of the finest brains you can find.”
Professor Adewole called on staff of Federal Teaching Hospitals and Centers 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.
He pledged to work with the Chief Medical Director to project the hospital, adding that the Federal Government is working with Sterling Bank to document the capabilities of Federal Centers so that Nigerians would know what they have and can do.
Briefing the Minister earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the Center, Professor Adetiloye said 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 Center and a Pharmacy Complex completed by the institution. [myad]
