The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has kick-started a 30-acre Medical City in Benin City, the Edo State capital, with the rebuilt state-owned college of nursing sciences commissioned on Thursday, March 10, 2022, by the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
According to Obaseki, the college of nursing sciences and the ongoing expansion of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital are integral parts of the medical city that will serve as a one-stop health care community and a hub for medical tourism.
The Governor who said this during the commissioning ceremony, added: “We are starting with this, this is just part of a 30-acre complex.
“At the other end, we are rebuilding the Stella Obasanjo Hospital and fixing a whole medical city where private clinics, private hospitals can come and take space and help build specialization around here. We are fortunate this place is served by the independent power network from Ossiomo and so they have 24-hour electricity.”
He further said that the medical city is part of a strategic and carefully articulated plan to revamp and redevelop the health care system in the state beginning with the primary health care system.
He explained that human capacity development is paramount in building an efficient health care delivery system, adding, “It is part of our plan to redevelop the health care systems in our state. One of the lessons Covid-19 pandemic taught us is that if you are ill, you have no control of where you will get care from.
“So for us the elite who used to think that it didn’t matter the state of our health care system, as long as we have the money, once we are ill, we can always fly abroad, Covid-19 has taught us that sometimes it is impossible to do so. So that motivated us to decide as a state not only to reestablish our health care system but to make Edo State a medical hub.
“So what you are witnessing today is part of a very well-articulated strategic plan first to develop the human capacity not just at the high end, but the people who support the health care system; nurses and midwives. We are also retooling and rebuilding our school of health technology such that the new design of our health care system emphasizes primary health care so that you have a health care service not more than five kilometers from where you live.
“That fits into the specialist care that you cannot go to a specialist hospital in Edo except you are referred from a primary health care center. That also means therefore that the human capacity at those centers needs to be properly developed.
The PDP National Chairman while commissioning the facility expressed his delight at the laudable achievements of the Governor, noting that the college of nursing sciences was a historic one, and was only possible under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He commended the Governor for creating a healthy environment for students and teachers in the state to thrive.
Senator Ayu said: “If you are sick you will know the importance of facilities like this that will produce the necessary manpower to look after you. When we are well, I think we don’t necessarily appreciate it, every one of us is going to be sick one day or the other.
“This is a very important program for us as a party and I am happy you are taking it seriously from the base level upward. When we drove in here, I was very happy to see young students well dressed and they look very happy because everybody wants to study in a healthy environment, we don’t want to leave our students and our teachers to be working in poor environment and I am happy you’ve resuscitated this very historic institution.
“I read a little bit about it in the program and I understand that you didn’t even enjoy accreditation a few years ago. Today only the PDP can do this. Which takes me to the fact that by the time PDP takes over power this in 2023, the president that we will produce will give you massive support in the cardinal areas that you have chosen to touch the lives of Edo people.
“I am happy with what you are doing and congratulate you, and I pray you continue in the same vein”.
The PDP national chairman who was accompanied by national and state party leaders including the chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the party, also commissioned the newly constructed Central Bus Terminal in Obakhavbaye, close to the city center and a Marine Police Base, armored guns and speed boats in Ologbo, near Benin City.
In her remark, the College Provost, Patricia Ukaigwe expressed great optimism about the leadership of Governor Obaseki.
She maintained that the significant milestones achieved in rebuilding the college into a world class institution with full accreditation was only possible under the visionary leadership of the Governor.
According to her, the operations of the college are strictly in line with the mandate from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the college is currently collaborating with universities in America and carrying out faculty development workshops to deliver world class services.
She Said: “We have achieved significant milestones because of the head start you gave to us. We run the school according to the mandate received from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. We operate a smart campus, with functional library and an e-library, skills laboratories, internet connection and uninterrupted power supply.”
Residents of Etete Community, where the college is located, expressed joy over the reemergence of the college in the community, which they said has helped in creating a new economy in the area.
By Godspower Eguasa
