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UBTH seeks better prevention, control measures for COVID-19 pandemic

By Michael Egbejule, Benin City
02 March 2021   |   4:03 am
Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, yesterday, stressed the need for practical, evidence-based approach in Infection Prevention...

Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, yesterday, stressed the need for practical, evidence-based approach in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to prevent patients and healthcare workers from being harmed by avoidable infections.

Obaseki, who stated this while outlining his activities in office tagged: My Stewardship: A Review of Strategic Reforms (2017-2021) in Benin City, said IPC occupied a peculiar position in patient safety and overall quality of healthcare.

He noted that IPC measures in UBTH include reconstitution of the IPC Committee in November 2019 to aggressively promote a culture of safety, identify and reduce risks of infections in patients and healthcare workers and in the community by ensuring effective work practices and procedures.

He also explained that the environmental management practices included management of hospital waste, support services and use of therapeutic devices, adding that investigation of disease outbreaks was part of efforts geared towards ensuring reduction in risks of infections in patients and healthcare workers at UBTH.

Other safety measures on the IPC, he said, are to promote and ensure appropriate staff Education and training in infection prevention and control.

On government’s commitment to improve funding for the hospital, the CMD said the capital budget funding from the Federal Government increased by an average of 400 per cent in the last three years.

He said the Ministry of Health has several projects in the hospital in the past three years, including, but no limited to incinerators, laboratory and endoscopy equipment.

Obaseki explained that UBTH’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had also increased by 100 per cent since his emergence as CMD, due to increased patronage, more efficient management of resources and creation of alternative revenue sources.

He said management also strengthened the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) services and instituted a complete overall of the administrative structure and clinical processes within the scheme.

“A clinical doctor coordinator was appointed to oversee the activities of the service. The various interventions resulted in improved efficiency, better client satisfaction and increased and enrollees’ utilisation of services. As a fall out, revenues from capitation and ‘fee for service’ have increased,” he said.

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