The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for collaboration with the World Medical Association to strengthen delivery of quality and affordable healthcare to Edo people across the state.
Obaseki made the call during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the World Medical Association led by its President-elect, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, at the Government House in Benin City.
He said, “Your positive acknowledgement of our modest contribution in the state has gone a long way in helping our government in terms of reforms in the medical space.”
“As you know, we are undertaking reforms in the healthcare sector. The amount of resistance we have faced might be quite discouraging but when we hear voices like yours, we know we are on the right track. That is quite encouraging and l want to thank you immensely for the support.
“Except people like you lend your voice to support the decentralisation of the health care system in this country and strengthen it from the foundation, particularly the emphasis on primary healthcare, we may be heading towards catastrophe going by the wave of epidemic outbreak in the world today. The foundation of our healthcare system in the country is just too weak. It is not about infrastructure or the building. It is about the people.”
The governor noted, “Edo State is particularly concerned in putting together new agencies, procedures and processes in ensuring that there is a scheme in place to pay for healthcare.
“We are now in the second phase of transforming our institutions that create the personnel to support our primary healthcare system. Just as we did with the State College of Nursing Sciences and now we are restructuring our School of Medical Healthcare Technology. Because at that level we need high quality and performing personnel to manage the base of our health care system,” Obaseki added.
The President-elect of the World Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele commended the state government on its massive infrastructural development in the healthcare sector.
