On Tuesday, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State received the accreditation team for the State College of Health Sciences and Technology in Benin City, in anticipation of the institution’s reopening. Upgraded into a world-class facility, the college aims to develop skilled manpower for the state’s health sector.
Speaking at the Government House in Benin City, Obaseki stated that the COVID-19 outbreak spurred his administration’s comprehensive overhaul of the healthcare system. The accreditation team included Dr. Esther Oshunluyi, a consultant to the College; Prof. Tosan Erhabor, CEO of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria; and Halima Ahmed, Director of Education at the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria.
Obaseki remarked, “The pandemic revealed significant flaws in our healthcare system, highlighting the need for a complete restructuring. Mobilizing over 5,000 doctors and numerous healthcare workers during our COVID-19 response showed us that our healthcare system was fundamentally broken. Effective healthcare is about more than doctors and hospitals; it’s about the entire support system, including middle management and manpower.”
He continued, “COVID-19 drove us to revamp our healthcare structure, transitioning the Ministry of Health from managing hospitals to acting as a regulator. With more private providers than government facilities, we introduced a robust insurance policy in Edo State, now the best in the country with over 250,000 subscribers, aiming for one million. Quality care requires more than infrastructure; it needs skilled people. Our primary healthcare institutions are the foundation of our system, and training institutions must focus on practical skills.”
Obaseki added, “With a significant shortage of quality manpower, we face migration challenges. It’s better to train people who can work abroad rather than have them remain unemployed at home. Our reforms include enumerating over 7,000 facilities and linking schools with the healthcare market for continuous training. We will complete this project and invite you to see the results. Our focus must be on skills, not just certificates.”
PHOTO CAPTION:
L-R (front row): Halima Ahmed, Director of Education, Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; his deputy, Engr. Omobayo Marvellous Godwins; Dr. Esther Oshunluyi, Consultant to the Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology; and Prof. Tosan Erhabor, CEO of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, during the accreditation team’s visit to the Government House in Benin City on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.