The Chief Medical Director of Reference Hospital, Okene, Dr. Shaibu Stephen Babatunde says the people of the State should expect improved service delivery in the coming year.
Dr. Shaibu stated this while speaking with Newsmen shortly after defending the Hospital’s 2025 budget at the Kogi State House of Assembly, Lokoja.
The CMD said the primary responsibility of the hospital is improved service delivery to patients.
“Going forward, we are expecting that as we take off as a Teaching Hospital we are going to be training various professionals in the various fields.” He said.
“We also believe that the hospital is going to have a strong footing to be self sustaining because that has been a mandate and we are having a good team that is working towards that, so we believe that with our team spirit we are going to achieve that.”
Dr. Shaibu highlighted the challenges been faced by the hospital to include, shortage of staff, lack of staff quarters, administrative block and lack of operational mortuary.
On the shortage of Medical Doctors at the Hospital despite the State of Art facilities, the CMD said poor renumeration is a major contributing factor.
“If there is an improved renumeration Doctors will definitely come and the Ministry of Health who is our Supervisory Ministry is also aware of this and there are in close discussion with the Executive Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo on this matter and I believe very soon is going be resolved so that we can attract Doctors to come over because we know that many of our Doctors are running outside the country so it a problem everywhere, even the Federal Institutions are having the same problem.”
Dr. Shaibu thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his sustained support that has ensured the growth of the hospital.