One of Africa’s very best tertiary health and medical research institutions, the University College Hospital, Ibadan recently celebrated a not too elaborate 60th anniversary.
The high point of the event was the hosting of Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN by the Professor Temitope Alonge-led management staff of the institution.
Despite its numerous challenges, UCH still stands tall and has been trudging on as best as it can.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government needs to pay special attention to the legacy institution for history to be fair to it. It is arguable that other administrations have come and gone with little or no attention given to UCH, but today, the Minister in Charge of the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole is one of the products of the institution. We can submit here that this, is a divine arrangement and it has presented the opportunity for the institution to be given its deserved attention.
Those concerned may not wish to admit it – the institution is presently facing what can best be described as ‘brain drain’. Experienced consultants and other senior officers are leaving at an alarming rate for greener pastures overseas. Those still remaining are merely marking time. This is not peculiar to UCH but moves must be made to reduce it because of the peculiar status it occupies. Most of the other tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, especially in the South West of the country directly or/and indirectly depend on it for several reasons. UCH is an octopus in this respect because of the infrastructure, manpower and history.
The government of Oyo, the state that hosts UCH also needs to do more in terms of overhauling its primary and secondary health delivery systems. If this is done, ‘Oritamefa’, as UCH used to be called by indigenes, will have less pressure and will be able to concentrate on its primary duties.
Health, they say, is wealth. Nigerian government must rise up to its responsibility of radically transforming the health sector. Those in positions of authority should not be contended seeking medical attention overseas.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
