The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday evening inaugurated a nine-man governing board headed by Prof. Wole Atoyebi to oversee the running of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.
Members of the Board are Dr. Kayode Akinlade; Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade; Oba Folorunso Agboade Makanju Olaniyan; the Acting Chief Medical Director LAUTECH, Prof. Akeem Lasisi; and the Permanent Secretary of the Osun Ministry of Health, Dr. Temitope Olalekan Oladele.
Others are the Chairman of Osun State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Surajudeen Ogunyemi; the Provost, College of Medicine, LAUTECH, Prof. Samuel Sunday Taiwo; and the Chairman for eh Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Daniel Adebode Adekanle.
The Governor while inaugurating the Board at the EXCO lounge of the Governors Office in Abeere Osogbo, stated that the board is being inaugurated at a time when public finance is at its lowest point on account of falling oil price and uncertainties at the global economy.
Aregbesola said this was the more reason members of the board must be ready for the hard task of running the institution as a world class one without passing undue burden on patients.
Aregbesola pointed out that in addition to the statutory responsibilities of the Board, members will be required to think for the hospital and make it a centre of medical excellence by national and global standards.
He charged the Board to change their mindset of what an hospital should be and let LAUTECH be a miracle centre where those expected to die would live.
The Governor also enjoined them to secure funding for the hospital without passing the burden to patients beyond what it is at the moment.
Aregbesola held that there is the need to have harmonious relationship with workers and trade unions, ensuring a seamless running at the hospital.
He said: “I am glad the chairman of the Board is himself a labour titan and the chairman of the medical association is on board.
“While not discounting the right of the people to association, industrial actions should have no place in a hospital where the difference between life and death is a matter of seconds.
“It is a sign that we are fast losing our humanity when caregivers look on indifferently and on purpose while people die.
“The board must also be on board our administration’s renewed efforts at work ethics.
“This is why work must yield a higher value of result than the input.
“The surplus value between input and result is called profit.
“This is not a problem at the private sector; it is indeed the raison d’etre of enterprise where every worker hired is expected to add value.”
The Governor stated that in spite of recent financial challenges facing the state, he will continue to fulfill his obligations, especially to critical institutions like LAUTECH and other hospitals.
Aregbesola said government has employed multifaceted approach towards achieving her goal of providing healthcare for the people, adding that measures taken cover such health-related areas as provision of potable water supply to people, especially in the rural areas to promote personal hygiene.
Speaking after the inauguration of the Board, Atoyebi thanked the Governor for the confidence reposed in them, saying they will leave no stone unturned at taking the hospital to an enviable height.
He noted that his team will heed the charge of Aregbesola that they hit the ground running immediately, saying they will be working round the clock to transform health institution in the state.
He said: “We are going to do all the needful because this is our state.
“The teaching hospital in Osogbo is supposed to be the best where people will come and get solution to their health problem.
“We are going to be serious and I have no doubt in my mind that with the calibre of people you have put together on this Board, the hospital will be moved to higher ground.”
Also speaking, Lasisi promised to work with the Board to move the hospital forward.
He held that the hospital henceforth will take to its responsibilities and occupy its rightful position among teaching hospitals in the country.
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