Health: House of Reps Committee Visits UUTH
…Seeks improvement on IGR
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has visited the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Uyo while commending the administrative strides of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. EmemAbasi Bassey.
The Committee praised Professor Bassey and his team for completing all projects that were initiated by the previous management team of the Institution saying that the CMD has demonstrated excellence in continuation, thus confirming the age-long maxim that government is a continuum.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Amos Magaji who led other members of the Committee to the Teaching Hospital on oversight Function on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, described the leadership of Professor EmemAbasi Bassey as impressive, worth emulating and credible, adding that their findings in the Health Institution was better than what they observed elsewhere.
The Chairman however called on the CMD and members of his team to up their game in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the Hospital.
He maintained that if there is an increase in IGR, most of the items needed in the Hospital would be acquired without stress and over-dependence on allocations to the Hospital. He expressed optimism that going by the positive mindedness of the CMD, the IGR will be looked into with a view to getting a positive action going forward.
Earlier, the team which was conducted around the Hospital by the CMD, alongside his Management Team gave inputs on what they expect the CMD and his team to do. They made contributions bothering on the aesthetics of the hospital, clinical as well as the infrastructural renaissance of the Heath Facility.
They discouraged the Hospital from human traffic, saying that patients should be treated and discharged as and when due and urging the Management Staff to run the facility in a manner that will attract all manner of persons to the facility.
On relationship with patients, the Committee stressed that the Management should develop more skills and techniques for dealing with VIP Patients. They encouraged the UUTH team to build a network of worth for the clinic in a manner that VIP patients will be happy to be associated and identified with the Hospital.
The Committee Chairman specifically stated that as a Nurse in the Hospital, caring for a VIP patient should be done in a manner that the privacy and sanctity of the Patient is maintained. He also encouraged the Hospital management to consider training and retraining her staffers in an appropriate manner.
During the interactive session in the Board Room of the Hospital, the CMD while presenting a position and defending the budget of the Hospital mentioned some challenges faced by the Institution.
He listed amongst others, the challenges of infrastructure, power, finances and human capital.
He recalled that upon assumption of office, he ensured the completion of all incomplete projects left by previous administrations. He informed the Committee that he only began the initiation of new projects two years ago when he had finished outstanding ones. He therefore called on the Committee to help UUTH as they continue the search for funds to facilitate and complete all other ongoing projects.
After the tour of facilities, the visiting team had a meeting with all Unions in the Institution and their representatives where the Union Leaders took their turns to express their concerns to the HoR Committee on Health Institutions.
Speakers at the meeting were Dr. Aniekeme Eto, President Association of Resident Doctors, UUTH; Dr. Solomon Bassey, Secretary Medical and Dental Association; and Comrade Harry Akpan who spoke on behalf of JOHESU.
Responding to their concerns, members of the Committee appreciated the Union leaders for being frank in their presentation. They promised to look into their concerns at the National level and mentioned that everything needed to be done within the jurisdiction of their Committee would definitely be handled.
Amongst those who accompanied the Committee Chairman for the oversight function were: Honourable members Adesola Adedayo who serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mark Esset, Emil Inyang and Usman Garo. Others were: Mr. Halatu Abas and Mrs. Bidemi Taiwo.