FG allocates N2.1bn to revive OAUTHC renal programme — CMD

By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo The Federal Government has allocated N2.1 billion to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, to revive its renal replacement programme, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. John Okeniyi, has said. Okeniyi disclosed this on Thursday during the grand finale of the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebration at its complex in Ile-Ife.

He said the planned revival of the programme was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the health sector. The CMD expressed optimism that the fund, when released and properly utilised, would restore the hospital’s renal replacement services and strengthen its capacity to provide kidney care for patients. “I would also like to thank President Bola Tinubu because we have up to N2.1 billion appropriated for our renal programme.

By the time we do this and get the money, I believe the renal replacement programme will be fully back. That is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said. Meanwhile, a former Osun State Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, called for greater support for healthcare initiatives, stressing the importance of investing in interventions that improve people’s health and save lives.

Omisore said healthcare was essential to human existence, urging individuals and stakeholders to support initiatives capable of making meaningful differences in people’s lives. “What I am trying to emphasise is that health is essential to life. That is why I consider this initiative important. I try to support causes that people will appreciate and that will make a meaningful difference in their lives.

That is the reality of healthcare institutions and the importance of their services,” he said. Also speaking, Mr Seyi Tinubu, represented by the Chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Mobilisation, Lawal Umar, said healthcare achievements should be measured by their impact on ordinary Nigerians rather than policies and infrastructure alone. “Health achievement should not be judged by policies and buildings, but by whether ordinary Nigerians can access care, afford medicines and recover,” he said.