The founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola has declared that government alone cannot fund health institutions in the country, urging the management of such organisations to look inward for internally generated revenue to boost funding.
He also bemoaned the high cost of imported medical equipment in the country, especially in view of naira’s falling value.
Babalola, who said this on Friday during the maiden edition of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI) Stakeholders’ Forum, urged patrons to make generous donations to FETHI’s cause.
The Chief Medical Director, FETHI, Prof Adekunle Ajayi, urged the public to take ownership of government health institutions in their areas, and support them for better quality and more affective service delivery.
Ajayi, who disclosed that FETHI was in dire need of support for infrastructures and services to the tune of over N2b, called on stakeholders to support the Federal Government facility in furtherance of the desire to continue the evolutionary journey of repositioning the hospital for greatness.
“Government is stretched out of its element in trying to manage something as complex as healthcare, with ensuing improved health outcomes in a tailspin. So, it is imperative to beef up the financing system of this sector by exploring largely non-governmental contributions,” he said.