From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Chief Medical Director of Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Dr Alabi briefing Journalists on his achievements
The Chief Medical Director, (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Lokoja, Dr. Olatunde Alabi, has stressed the urgent need for the federal government to tackle the alarming brain drain of medical doctors, nurses and other health personnel in Nigeria.
The CMD who made the call while interacting with members of Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi state council, said that it has become necessary in order to save the nation’s health care delivery service from total collapse.
He also gave an assurance that his tenure in the hospital will witness more infrastructural development that will Carter for the health needs of the people.
Dr. Alabi who took over the mantle of leadership of the hospital since 2017, have over the years built on the existing foundation of the previous management towards transforming the hospital into a world class standard.
According to him , the Federal Medical Centre now Federal Teaching Hospital suffered shortage of structures.
He said through his effort and that of the management of the hospital they were able to construct new administrative block, special care baby unit, dental unit, ophthalmology unit, provision of alternative power, renovation of oxygen plant unit among others, assuring that before the end of his tenure the hospital will witness more infrastructural development to meet the standard of a teaching hospital.
The CMD who also identified shortage of staff and lack of critical equipment as major challenges in the hospital, stated that the exit of some of the experience doctors of the hospital as a result of the popular ‘Japa Syndrome’ was majorly responsible for the shortage of staff in the hospital.
He noted that the strict process of employing new staff is also hindering the replacement of those staff that have exited from the hospital, saying some who were even on bond preferred to off-see their bond and travel out, which he said is now in vogue.
Dr Alabi who is an obstetrician and gynaecologist while responding to why some medical cases are referred to other hospitals, even though a tertiary health facility, noted that the absent of some critical equipment needed in some specialized department was responsible for this, noting that the hospital is already making efforts to get some of these equipment.
Speaking on laxity among some staff of the hospital, the CMD , said efforts are constantly on to change the mindset of some of these members of staff.
“We do not condone any form of misbehavior from our staff, particularly towards patients who come here to assess medical attention. So we will continue to do this until they conformed with our set standards and objectives” he stated.
