By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
Just like he has already done with the College of Nursing Science in Benin, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to revamp the Edo State School of Health Technology in Benin City, to world standard.
The institution, which was established about 64 years ago to provide middle-level manpower to support the healthcare system of the State, has been in a bad shape, with dilapidated and inadequate infrastructure.
Speaking during his visit to the institution, the Governor said: “You know that with the restructuring of the health care system today, we are emphasizing primary healthcare.
“The institution that trains the manpower required for primary health care is supposed to be the School of Health Technology.”
Speaking on the level of work required to bring the institution back to life, he said the rebuilt school will be of international standard.
“So for us as a government, given the quality we are aspiring to in terms of provision of care at the primary level, we want to make sure that the institution that trains and prepares our staff to work in the primary health care system is of international standard and is world-class.”
“We also see opportunities in training our people for work abroad. There is quite a huge shortage of intermediate medical personnel, particularly in Europe, and we’ve been approached.
“So we want to make sure we build a facility, a school that can pass the test, international certifications for training our manpower for the primary and intermediate levels of our healthcare system”, he added.
Obaseki lamented the condition of the structures in the institution which have been neglected by past administrations, adding that it is a very expensive joke the state cannot afford.
“How can you train health workers in an environment like this? It’s a joke! We can’t continue with the joke. It is too expensive. So we have to do what we need to do.
“We have a model for revamping and restructuring our educational institutions, and in the first quarter of next year, you will see what we will do,” he assured.
Some of the features of the project will include provision of additional hostels, a new administrative block, modern Information Computer Technology (ICT) laboratory and library, blocks of classrooms and an auditorium.
