By Simeon OSAJIE
Determined to drive Infrastructure revolution at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu has embarked on the inspection of projects in the tertiary health institution to improve service delivery.
At the project inspection in the hospital, which includes the new National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) building complex dedicated for staff and the ultramodern UBTH staff lounge championed by Prof. (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu is transforming the landscape and rekindling hope among staff and students, including patients.
At the heart of this transformation is the remodeled NHIS building to take care of staff members only with a view to reducing the workload at the General Practice Clinic (GPC), which hitherto was the only facility providing healthcare services for hundreds of patients seeking medicare on a daily basis.
According to her, the intervention is designed to bring a permanent end to the long suffering of patients at the GPC, which has been the case for decades.
During the inspection, the CMD noted that the projects are aimed at ensuring every Nigerian has access to good healthcare at the UBTH.
At the inspection of the new Staff Lounge Center under construction, which is almost at the completion stage, the CMD noted that the lounge, when completed, is to provide a comfortable, casual space for relaxation and socializing.
The Staff Lounge is a new innovation by the Prof. Ize-Iyamu- led administration and also houses the UBTH Creche and playground.
The Crèche is expected to provide services for staff and non-staff nursing mothers at the hospital, which many have described as a great feat for her administration following the previous administration’s abandonment of the Crèche and subsequent close down of the facility.
The highlight of the inspection was the stopover by the CMD and her management team at the GPC Clinic, where she observed concerns over patients long waiting hours to see medical personnel with a directive to all to ensure patients prompt treatment and medical attention.