Govt Alone Can’t Fund Health Institutions – Afe Babalola
• CMD Seeks Public Support For N2b Hospital Needs
THE founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti ( ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola has declared that government alone cannot fund health institutions in the country, urging the management of such organisations to look inward for internally generated revenue to boost funding.
He also bemoaned the high cost of imported medical equipment in the country, especially in view of naira’s falling value.
Babalola, who said this on Friday during the maiden edition of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti ( FETHI) Stakeholders’ Forum, urged patrons to make generous donations to FETHI’S cause.
The Chief Medical Director, FETHI, Prof Adekunle Ajayi, urged the public to take ownership of government health institutions in their areas, and support them for better quality and more affective service delivery.
Ajayi, who disclosed that FETHI was in dire need of support for infrastructures and services to the tune of over N2b, called on stakeholders to support the Federal Government facility in furtherance of the desire to continue the evolutionary journey of repositioning the hospital for greatness.
“Government is stretched out of its element in trying to manage something as complex as healthcare, with ensuing improved health outcomes in a tailspin. So, it is imperative to beef up the financing system of this sector by exploring largely non- governmental contributions,” he said.
Ajayi explained that the hospital’s areas of need included building and equipping of a modern Geriatric Centre for senior citizens, valued at about N150m; construction of 150- bed capacity modern patients’ ward, valued at N700m; construction of N100m befitting VIP/ Amenity Ward for high net- worth people; and N150m conference hall.
Others included upgrade of the renal and cardiac centre, which the CMD said was already about 75 per cent completed. “We need help, so that we can begin interventional services in renal and cardiac medicine. This requires huge investment and also involves capacity building training.”
He said FETHI would welcome assistance from stakeholders and wellmeaning Nigerians on the Indigent Trist Fund for compassionate assistance for the poor’s healthcare needs; continuous renovation of existing structures; and strategic capacity building for clinical and non- clinical staffs.
FETHI Governing Council Chairman, Mohammed Sukababa, said “Nigerian health system is facing tough time, which requires all hands to be on deck at a period like this. Government cannot do it alone. Therefore, the need to bring improvement to our health systems demands collective efforts”.