The Chief Medical Director, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, has urged Nigerian leaders to build quality health systems to reduce incessant overseas travel for medical treatment. Ogoina, who spoke in an interview in Yenagoa sequel to the 10th anniversary of NDUTH, said Nigerians visited abroad for medical treatment because they received quality service outside.
He said, ‘’It is important that we build our systems; to build quality and that is our vision at NDUTH at Okolobiri. People go outside the country because they receive quality service outside.
‘’Travelling abroad for medical treatment is beyond equipment, it is beyond manpower. The attitude of health care workers also comes into place. How do you manage your system?
‘’We want a situation where we have quality apart from the expertise and equipment and a situation where government officials instead of travelling abroad can come to our hospital.’’
Ogoina said the hospital had achieved a lot of breakthroughs since its inception 10 years ago in spite of a few challenges such as manpower, equipment and infrastructure.
He said over the last decade, it had been directly involved in the full and part-time training of more than 5,000 health workers of almost every professional group.
Ogoina said the training included but not limited to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and students from diverse groups, noting that in conjunction with the Niger Delta University, the hospital is proud to have trained and graduated six sets of no less than 300 medical doctors.
He said that in the next five to 10 years, the hospital hoped to become a centre of excellence for healthcare delivery in the Niger Delta region and beyond.
‘’We are confident that one or more of these centres of excellence will become a reality in the NDUTH before the next decade. The current management of the hospital has recognised that every vision is realised only by deliberate and sustainable actions by all stakeholders.’’
Meanwhile, Governor Seriake Dickson has urged health practitioners in the state to avoid strikes and professional rivalry in order not to cripple the achievements made in the health sector.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), gave the advice during a week-long celebration of the 10th year anniversary of the NDUTH at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
The Punch News
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