IWO GENERAL HOSPITAL NOT IN SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL - Dr. Akindele Adekunle.

PRESS RELEASE

IWO GENERAL HOSPITAL NOT IN SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL - Dr. Akindele Adekunle.

Osogbo, February 7th, 2025.

.     Dr. Akindele Adekunle, 

         SA on public Health.

The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle has debunked the rumours making the rounds on shortage of personnel in the State owned General Hospital located at Ìwo local government Area of Osun State.

Dr. Akindele in a press release made this statement today, February 7th 2025 which was released to the media and stated categorically below.

"Our attention has been drawn to an advocacy by a group, THURIST - Nigeria, on the state of medical personnel at Iwo General Hospital. While we do not necessarily seek to question the validity or otherwise of the group's position, we intend to state for the public knowledge that the hospital has the requisite medical personnel to deliver on its mandate.

"As a matter of routine, a doctor who has been providing medical service in the hospital for years was recently transferred out, and as a replacement, two doctors were deployed to Iwo General Hospital. One of the two hospital doctors moved to Iwo General Hospital is a Level-17 officer with deep experience in medical service delivery, which underscores the importance that this administration attached to the hospital.

"Similarly, two nurses were transferred out of Iwo General Hospital, and were as well immediately replaced. We have to emphasize that transfer of personnel is a usual occurrence in every government set up as it is a means to ensure that the people get the services for which are paid for from the state's purse.

It is important to note the significant challenge posed by the increasing migration of medical personnel from Nigeria to overseas, which explains why President Bola Tinubu recently signed a law extending the retirement age of medical personnel by five more years to enable the country, Osun inclusive, to utilise the available human resources in the health sector to deliver the health needs of the people. 

"Notwithstanding this reality, Osun state is exploring the option of replacing some personnel on a need basis. This is an ongoing effort and we want to assure the public that it will draw more human capitals for the delivery of healthcare services.

"In continuation of ongoing efforts to improve the infrastructures of our healthcare facilities, I am pleased to inform the public, particularly Osun people, that Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the total overhauling of the physical infrastructures of secondary health facility, of which Iwo General Hospital, is among.

"Just as was done with the PHCs, Iwo General Hospital and others will be rehabilitated, upscaling not just the infrastructure to modern standards but also equipping them with some state-of-the-art tools to aid effective healthcare delivery. A bill of quantities (BOQ) and other professional assessments had been undertaken and in a matter of a few weeks, work will commence at the various secondary facilities scheduled for rehabilitation.

"This goes to show the efforts that this administration is putting in place to deliver qualitative healthcare and we urge the public to bear with us. The rot inherited by this administration in the health sector is enormous and gradually, we're taking pragmatic steps to resolve them and ensure that the healthcare needs of the people are met.

Signed:

Dr. Akindele Adekunle,

Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Public Health.