Gowon, Oshiomhole task medical doctors on professionalism

Edo govt set to empower more returnees from Libya
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has described the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as one of the leading centres in health services and training institutions in the country.

Besides, Gowon and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, harped on the need for medical doctors to shun private practices and be professional in the discharge of their duties.

The duo cautioned against incidences where doctors carry out duties other than their specialty, which according to Oshiomhole, is responsible for some of the avoidable deaths recorded in most hospitals in the country.

Oshiomhole recalled his sad experience, which led to the death of his wife, Clara, in an undisclosed hospital where he said the unprofessional doctors failed to diagnose on time the actual ailment his wife was suffering, until after an over-blown case of breast cancer was detected by experts.

Gowon and Oshiomhole spoke in Benin City yesterday during the UBTH’s Founders Day and launching of endowment fund.

Gowon said that the achievements and performance of UBTH had justified the vision behind the setting up of the hospital.

He added that the decision to remember and mark the founders with the inaugural Founders Day and launching of the endowment fund for the hospital is an indication for further development.

“The teaching hospital over the years has turned out to become a conglomerate training institution for a wide variety of healthcare professions from the basic to the highest levels of specialisation in various fields.

“The endowment fund being launched today becomes so relevant as it is a worthy endeavour geared towards upgrading the institution and health services in the state and country to a level capable of helping in reversing the burden of medical tourism,” Gowon said.

In his speech, Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, said the hospital had been repositioned to meet the vision and mission of the founding fathers of the hospital.

In another development, the Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Anti-Human Trafficking Issues, Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, has said that the state government is committed to the welfare and reintegration of returned migrants from Libya.

Okoduwa spoke yesterday at the end of an empowerment programme initiated by Senator Matthew Urhoghide to compliment the effort of Edo State government in ending youths’ restiveness in the state.

The governor’s aide also commended the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for putting up a programme to support the Edo extraction of Libya returnees who were recently received by Edo State government.