Stakeholders seek improved welfare packages for healthcare workers

Some stakeholders in the Edo health sector have urged improved welfare package for healthcare workers, saying that better remuneration and incentives remained critical to sustaining quality healthcare delivery across the state.

The stakeholders made the call in a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the state of General Hospitals in the state.

They, however, commended ongoing investments by the state government in healthcare infrastructure, personnel development and service delivery.

The stakeholders described the investments as positive steps toward strengthening the sector.

A medical practitioner at Edo Specialist Hospital, Dr Daniel Ibafe, said the state government had made notable efforts to improve the welfare of doctors and other health workers.

He cited the renovation of doctors’ quarters, approval of promotions and implementation of welfare packages as measures that had boosted staff morale.

Ibafe, however, stressed the need for further improvements in remuneration, particularly for house officers and early-career doctors, to enhance motivation and service delivery.

According to him, adequately motivated healthcare workers are better positioned to provide quality and efficient services to patients.

He also advocated increased enrolment in health insurance schemes, noting that many residents still relied on out-of-pocket spending to access healthcare.

According to him, wider participation in health insurance programmes would improve affordability and access to healthcare while advancing universal health coverage in the state.

Speaking on services at Edo Specialist Hospital, Mrs Joy David described healthcare delivery at the facility as satisfactory but noted that some prescribed medications remained expensive.

She also identified congestion at the hospital pharmacy as a challenge, although patients had the option of obtaining medications from external pharmacies when necessary.

Similarly, Miss Victory Osazee, who visited the hospital for a routine medical check-up, commended the quality of services but expressed concern over long waiting times and inadequate seating arrangements.

She said the growing number of patients accessing healthcare services highlighted the need for more personnel to improve efficiency and reduce delays.

Sharing a similar sentiment, Mr Edosa Okunbo, Editor of Midwest Heritage News, praised the quality of healthcare delivery at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

He, however, urged authorities to improve environmental sanitation and ensure consistent availability of essential medicines to enhance satisfaction of patients.

A patient at the hospital, Mrs Jane Francis, described her experience as positive and commended the professionalism of doctors and nurses, particularly in caring for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

She, nonetheless, called for improved maintenance of some hospital restrooms and urged both members of staff and patients to uphold hygiene standards.

Francis also noted that the facility had maintained relatively stable water and electricity supply, contributing to uninterrupted healthcare services.

Another patient, who preferred anonymity, described the services as satisfactory and praised healthcare workers for their prompt and professional attention to patients.

The patient also lauded the hospital’s practice of conducting necessary medical tests before treatment, describing it as a hallmark of quality healthcare delivery.

Also speaking, Mr Titus Akhigbe, a former secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council, said the government had demonstrated commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure through the construction of new hospitals and upgrading of existing facilities.

Akhigbe said that although challenges remained, ongoing investments in infrastructure, medical equipment and manpower development reflected steady progress in the sector.

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He expressed optimism that sustained attention to healthcare workers’ welfare, infrastructure development and service delivery would further improve health outcomes across Edo.

Efforts to get the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomole to speak proved abortive as the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr Stephenson Ojeifo said the commissioner was out of the state.

Ojeifo also declined to comment on the issue, saying he needed approval of the commissioner to speak on the matter