The Chief Medical Director of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Professor John Okeniyi, has commended the Federal Government for the improved budgetary allocation to the health sector.
According to Professor Okeniyi, the increased funding has enabled the institution to achieve outstanding breakthroughs in healthcare delivery, including open heart surgery, renal transplantation, and free blood cancer treatment.
The CMD stated this during the inaugural press briefing held to highlight lined-up activities for the 50th anniversary of the University Teaching Hospital complex. He noted that the hospital’s annual budgetary allocation increased from N2.5 billion to N20 billion after keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Professor Okeniyi praised President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary, and the National Assembly for their role in increasing the hospital’s funding.
He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda has significantly improved healthcare delivery services at the hospital.
“Recently the Hospital keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda which resulted in the increase of budgetary allocation from N2.5billion annually to N20 billion annually,” the CMD said.
“When I came in, we use to receive N2/N2.5billion annually but after we key into Renewed Hope Agenda, then it goes astronomically to N20billon. We have to reciprocate what the government is doing by providing more services to Nigerians. This week alone we’ve done seven major liver surgeries, ranging from ERPs to Whipple procedure for pancreas.
“The government has done its part, they can do more because of the infrastructural decay and personnel, we will get there. I must commend President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary and those at the National Assembly, they saw the need and made it happen,” he added.
The CMD highlighted the hospital’s notable achievements, including separating Siamese twins, leading in cardiac surgery and renal transplant using indigenous personnel, and providing free blood cancer treatment.
“we have separated Siamese twins, we are leading in the area of cardiac surgery, renal transplant using indigenous personnel, providing free blood cancer treatment among others,” he added.
He also noted that OAUTHC is a World Health Organisation (WHO) Centre of Excellence in Neonatal medicine and newborn, with the biggest pediatric surgical complex in Nigeria.
Professor Okeniyi expressed optimism that Nigeria can attain 80 years of life expectancy if the momentum in the health sector is sustained.
He commended the Federal Government’s efforts and emphasized the hospital’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
