Edo Govt To Commence Use of Its Five-Star Hospital

 

Before he exited as the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole built a world-class Central Hospital in Benin-city, the state capital, it was learnt.

The hospital, built beside the old Central Hospital, was inaugurated a day before Oshiomhole left office in 2012 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

At the inauguration of the hospital, the present Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, stated that the aim of building such a sophisticated hospital was to prevent medical tourism.

However, Obaseki did not open the hospital for use and had remain under lock and keys.

The situation had led to series of protests by individuals and civil society organisations, which demanded that the hospital be put into use.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, quoted the governor to have said: "Edo State Governor cannot run a hospital of such magnitude."

He added that instead, Obaseki said his administration is looking for a Public Private Partners (PPP) to effectively run the hospital.

But during a guided tour, Vamed, the firm given the contract to supply the equipment for the hospital, told journalists that the hospital was fully equipped based on the contract given to them to supply equipment.

He added that repeatedly, the company sent a memo to the governor for government to send personnel for training on how to operate the equipment installed in the hospital but that the governor has not responded, warning that some of the equipment installed have a time out of two year-if these equipment are not put into use, they will expire.

Explaining the position of the state government, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said the government does not just want to recruit any medical personnel, but those specially trained with experience to handle the equipment.

According to him, "These special personnel are not easy to come by.”

“Of recent, there are indications that the abandoned five-star Central Hospital would soon be opened to the public

It was gathered that some renovation works were being carried out on the structure of the hospital.

This is as some of the roof tiles were being changed and other parts of the main building cleaned.

Although Osifo could not be reached for comment, as phone calls made to him were not unanswered, an official of the state hospital board who did not want his name to be mentioned in print  as he was not authorised to speak, confirmed that plans were on top gear to commence the use of the hospital.