University College Hospital [UCH], Ibadan, Oyo State generates an average of N200m per month from various medical services, a Chief Medical Director.

The Chief Medical Director, UCH, Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, disclosed on Monday that the hospital generates an average of N200million per month from various medical services.

However, according to him, the revenue being generated could not cover the cost of maintenance within the month as the cost of diesel and maintenance of generators placed a huge burden on the institution.

Apart from this, he said there were other infrastructures that that should be serviced regularly for optimal performance.

Otegbayo made this disclosure on Monday during a press conference to mark his one year in office as CMD.

The CMD disclosed that the hospital currently runs no fewer than 75 power generating sets in order to maintain seamless services across its operational areas.

He said,

“On average, we generate N200m monthly. That should not be looked at in isolation. You will ask how much we spend also on diesel, buying and repairing generators and meeting other needs. I want to say this amount is still not enough. Fortunately, we have people of goodwill who make donations to supplement what we are generating.

“The topmost challenge, for us, is power. This is hospital environment; you cannot over-emphasize the need for regular power supply. Imagine if a patient is being operated and power goes off. A lot of things can go wrong.

“If you ask me, power is number one. Then, number two is power and number three is light. Number four will now be water.

“Our intention is to provide equipment for the diagnosis of diseases that are endemic in Nigeria and to bring back our cardiac programme which had been in lieu for quite a while. We also intend to ensure that the kidney transplant that was done last week becomes sustainable.”

Dr Toyin Okeowo, who spoke on behalf of the board of trustees of the hospital, recalled that 20 years ago, UCH was the fourth-best hospital in the Commonwealth.

He said,

“UCH is fortunate to have the best supporting hands. We believe strongly that we can regain the feat if the hospital is provided with required resources. Already, we have engaged the Ibadan Disco on how to improve power supply. That is the first step.”

As part of activities marking his one year in office, a new blood bank and a brachytherapy unit was inaugurated. Also inaugurated, among others were two theatres; an oxygen gas plant and a cash and carry consumable shop.

Meanwhile, Otegbayo said the hospital had begun the training of no fewer than 200 personnel of the hospital on best methods to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

He stated that the teaching hospital had been on the red alert since the outbreak of Coronavirus was reported, stressing that UCH had done so much in terms of awareness and training against the outbreak of the virus.

He said,

“On Friday, I signed about 200 certificates of training. We are training our staff in batches on how to curtail the infection and on what Coronavirus is about. If you go to any of our clinics, you will see one of our personnel using infra-red thermometer to scan people’s heads to take their temperature.

“We have two standing committees on the virus – we have the UCH Emergency Response Committee and an Infection Control Committee. These committees have been on beat since we heard about this outbreak. In fact, they have been very busy because we had a suspected case (of Coronavirus) on admission. We have an isolation ward as you entre through the main gate of UCH to the right.

“Also, we have generated so much awareness. As you enter the hospital, you will see some posters as well as within the hospital. The committees have been going round to enlighten people.

“If your temperature is found to be higher than normal, without any explanation – because it is not only Coronavirus that causes fever – you will be separated and tested for the virus if you cannot find any other explanation. If we are to be testing everybody with fever in the hospital, we would probably be testing all our incoming patients.”

At the entrances of the wards at UCH, buckets of water, soaps and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are available for washing. About a week ago, the CMD said the head of pharmacy was directed to ensure that all the cans for the hand sanitizers in the hospital were filled.

“Today, as part of the programme, we have a hospital-wide round,” he said