FG Promises Increased Funding For Nation’s Health Sector, As UBTH CMD Laments Inadequate Health Workers

Prof. Darlington Obaseki, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), has lamented shortage of manpower in the hospital.

This is coming just as the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, promised increased funding for Nigeria’s health sector by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Obaseki, while playing host to Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, Monday, during a working visit to the institution, described as grossly inadequate the 250 Consultants, 300 Resident Doctors and 750 Nurses working in the Hospital to care for the over 500 patients that visit everyday

The CMD who described the tertiary health institution as a major training ground for Nigeria’s healthcare sector, said “we are a major producer of the healthcare workforce in Nigeria. We train Resident Doctors, we produce specialized medical manpower for Nigeria.

“We have about 29 clinical departments out of which 28 departments are fully accredited by the West African Colleges,” he added.

The CMD, however, commended President Tinubu for increased funding to the Hospital.

“We have to thank President Bola Tinubu, since he came on board, there has been increased funding for the health sector, it has not been like this for a long time.

“Since I’ve been on board, there has never been funding in the health sector like this in last year and this year and this has allowed us to do so many things like the physical infrastructure that you’ve seen,” he said.

In his response, the Minister of State for Health, assured of increased funding for Nigeria’s health sector by the administration of President Tinubu.

Salako who commended the UBTH management team for their dedication and innovation in the Hospital, stated that the government prioritizes and values health workers.l

“The challenge of ‘Japa’ in the health sector is mostly an economic challenge and we will continue to address it. But, economic problems are practically beyond the health sector. I believe that the direction of ‘Japa’ will eventually be reversed.

“Within the economic ability of Nigeria, health workers are still the best paid in our country today, which means that the government prioritizes and values health workers.

“We will continue to canvass for increased funding for the healthcare sector, and of course, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has clearly demonstrated his priority attention to the health sector.

“Not many things that we asked the president that he doesn’t do. He knows the value of health and he is giving a lot of attention to the health sector and we are just going to encourage us to continue to reciprocate our commitment, hard work and dedication to the people,” he said.