By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
A group on the aegis of Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), has kicked against the alleged plan by the state government to shutdown the Edo Central Hospital, Benin.
The Extended Council (TEC) Chairman, Leftist Austine Enabulele, at a large meeting of the group, said that information available at their disposal, alleged that the state government has penciled down for closure, the hospital without recourse to the health need of the common man.
“The attention of leaders and members of Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO) has been drawn to what seemed like a rumour but now seeming true of a purported plan by the Edo State government of permanent closure of the Edo Central Hospital which has served the lower class of the society over the years.
Leftist Enabulele also alleged that the government has increased the price of the case file from N6000 to N15,000 adding that, this single feat has made healthcare inaccessible in the state.
“Further information and investigations have also revealed that there have never been employment of doctors since the administration of governor Godwin Obaseki came on board let alone training and retraining of medical personnel of the Central Hospital till this moment.
“The government has not improved anything about the hospital rather it was demolished to pave the way for a museum, a project that has no direct bearing on the welfare of the people of Edo State.
“The pregnant women unit (maternity) and other skeletal service delivering units by the hospital that were relocated to the Sickle Cell building in GRA is being penned down for total closure.
“Most recently is the sharp increment of hospital bills like case file which used to be N6000 has been increased to N15000.
“This is just an example of the increment that touches everything which has further contributed to the pains of the common man in Edo State.
“As we speak, Edo State doesn’t have Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the state hospital which finally suggests that healthcare is gone and of no interest or importance to the government of the day”, Enabulele said.
While rejecting the alleged closure of the said hospital by government and the increased bills, he asked the government to come out openly and tell the Edo people the state of the hospital.
He also asked the government to reverse all the astronomical increment of charges in the public hospital for easy access and affordability by the common man.
The interim TEC Chairman said that as a matter of urgency, the hospital should be restored with functional equipment while doctors should be employed to cover the current shortage being experienced and that there should be training and retraining of all medical personnel in the hospital.
In a swift reaction, the Edo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Samuel Alli said he was not aware of such and allegations and development.
He said he was going to find out and get back to the reporter.
Similarly, the group at its General Assembly, which is the highest decision making organ of the coalition, made some amendments in its constitution and adopted same.
The amendment was done on June 8, 2024.
Newstracktoday reports that the sections amended in the constitution according to the group, include article 2 which deals with the name of the coalition, article 10 subsection 7 talks about membership and dis-membership, article 21 highlights operations of The Extended Council (TEC), article 25 reviews conduct of election which consensus was now a mode of election was added.
Newstracktoday also reports that the group wants to dwell more on competency, capacity and sagacity of who becomes the leader of the association rather than paper qualifications, thus believes that a consensus will best serve that purpose.
Others include article 34; tenure of office, article 37; dues, article 18; office of the executives, article 39; commencement and review of the constitution and article 40; constitution amendment procedure, while article 26 addresses election regulations.
After much deliberations and inputs from members present, Comrade Charles Ojo, however moved for its adoption while Comrade Kingsley Obasuyi seconded it.
