GODWIN Obaseki, Edo State governor, is to privatise Benin Specialist Hospital to enable it provide optimal heathcare services as he signs a memorandum of understanding with Catholic Relief Services for the delivery of more than two million mosquito nets

Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor, said his administration has resolved to privatise the Specialist Hospital in Benin City to enable it provide world class healthcare services.

According to the governor, the privatisation of the hospital will put it at par with the best hospitals in the world to meet the healthcare needs of Nigerians who ordinarily would have to travel abroad for such services.

He said the logic of his administration is to woo those who have the resources to travel abroad for treatment to Edo State to patronise the hospital which will render same standard healthcare services obtainable abroad.

He added that the revenue that will accrue to the state  from the medical tourists will be channeled to provide affordable healthcare services for the ordinary Edo people across the state.

He made this position known during the signing of a memorandum of understanding, MoU, between Edo State government and the Catholic Relief Services, CRS, which will provide over two million treated mosquito nets for Edo citizens.

The governor added that many people suffer from malaria compared to renal failure and stressed that primary healthcare is key to improved health of the people.

“We are going to invest massively in our primary healthcare system,” the governor assured.

Obaseki said the MoU was important as it emphasises what the administration stands for, adding that it was the beginning of cooperation between his administration and the CRS and other donor bodies in providing affordable healthcare for the people of Edo State.

He added that his administration places high premium on the healthcare of the people, which explains why he appointed the Philp Shaibu, deputy governor, to head the Edo State long lasting insecticide treated net campaign committee.

“I hope we will make history by emerging the first state in the country to totally eliminate malaria. Our counterpart fund is available and we are working round the clock to ensure that the time line we set for ourselves for the rollout which is  August 20, this year is met,” Obaseki said.

Ikhimioya Uchechuku, leader of the team for CRS, commended the governor for the collaboration and expressed their readiness to work with the Obaseki-led administration to ensure that malaria is a thing of the past in Edo State.

The high point of the event was the signing of the MoU.

Uchechuku signed for CRS while Osarodion Ogie, secretary to Edo State government signed for Edo State government.

—  Jul 19, 2017 @ 19:00 GMT