Gov. Obaseki inaugurates College of Health Sciences and Technology

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday inaugurated the upgraded College of Health Technology to Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology (EDOCOHEST).

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Obaseki, during the inauguration in Benin, highlighted the founding vision of the College of Health Technology, established 60 years ago.

He attributed his recent healthcare reforms to the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Reflecting on past leadership, Obaseki noted that history brought people who undervalued the institution stating, “May the labour of our heroes never go in vain.”

“What scared me most about COVID-19 wasn’t the virus itself, but our inability to respond to the pandemic.

“The central hospital was the only option, So in 2020, I vowed to restore health institutions across the state if I survived the pandemic.

“The lesson I learned from the pandemic is that we must build our own healthcare system. Healthcare is more than just infrastructure, it’s a system built on skilled people.

“In 2016, when we came in, the School of Nursing and College of Health Technology were closed down with no accreditations at that time. And we decided after the COVID-19 to revamp the School of Nursing and the College of Health Sciences to produce the manpower needed in our healthcare system,” he said.

Obaseki noted that in place of one central hospital, he launched over 10 primary health centres to serve local populations, including areas like Oredo, Amagba, and Evhotobu.

He added that Nigeria’s healthcare policy mandated one health center per political ward.

He explained that Edo has nearly 200 wards, each needing health workers, totaling around 2,000 for effective coverage.

“Where do we train them if we don’t build healthcare training institutions like the one we are inaugurating today.

“Nurses, pharmacists, and support staff are essential, and so this institution would help train these middle-level manpower,”.

Obaseki urged a shift from top-down thinking, saying, “Our solutions won’t only come from the top but from the middle and bottom.”

He praised the institution’s high standards, noting that, its facilities exceeded those in many universities in the country.

According to him, in 2016, these opportunities didn’t exist for young people, they were victims of traffickers due to lack of hope and development-focused leadership.

Obaseki disclosed that the campus had world-class facilities, free internet, Wi-Fi, and 24 hours reliable electricity, adding that admissions were based on merit.

Also speaking, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal applauded the governor for the shining example of what could be achieved when resilience, vision and dedication come together.

Lawal noted that the Edo College of Health Technology reminded him of his state, Zamfara, adding that he had similar projects ongoing in the Zamfara School of Nursing.

“Aside from producing heath officials, I pray that this institution would be a bridge to connect people, create jobs and foster economic growth for both within and outside Edo, ” he said.

NAN/Wumi