The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has visited some health facilities in Enugu on a spot assessment of the facilities and also to encourage the management and staff.
At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), the Hon. Minister observed the warmness and solidarity displayed by the team and encouraged them to continue as quality care can only be guaranteed in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility
The UNTH, which is regarded as the foremost thoracic cardiac center in Nigeria has conducted one hundred and seventy five (175) open heart cases in 2013.
Prof. Adewole promised that the Federal Government’s is commitment to gradual upgrade of the tertiary facilities in the country for effective health care in order reduce medical tourism
He informed the management and staff of the faculty that the government would adopt the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in developing the infrastructure in order to augment the budgetary provision and fast track the development.
He added that PPP does not translate to loss of job but rather make public sector run with effectiveness, efficiency and prudence of the private sector.
He encouraged the management to show case the good work, they are doing.
Similarly, the Hon. Minister visited the National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu, where he urged the management and staff to join hands with the Federal Government to stem the tide of medical tourism.
While, commending them for the neat environment and harmonious working relationship observed at the facility, Prof. Adewole advised them to take part in the ten thousand (10,000) surgeries, the ministry is doing, for which the ministry will is picking the bill pay using the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) rate.
At the Psychiatric Hospital Enugu, the Managing Director, Dr.Ugochukwu Onwukwe informed the Minister that the hospital records Ten (10) fresh new cases every five days and most of the patients are unemployed and as such could not pay for cost of treatment.
He said his team was working towards creating psychiatric training unit in Primary Health Care (PHC), so as to involve the community in the care of the patients.
Professor Adewole commended the management and encouraged them to involve the community in caring for the patients.
