Taraba Varsity Clinic Upgrades Services to Boost Healthcare Delivery.
By Christiana Babayo.
In a bid to boost healthcare delivery, the Taraba State University Clinic has recently upgraded its services, introducing some improvements designed to enhance patient care and outcomes.
The Principal Medical Officer of the University, Dr. Isaiah Hunuato, who disclosed this in an interview, highlighted some of these improvements to include surgical procedures, midwifery, and increased manpower to cater for the health needs of patients.
This development, according to him, is expected to have far-reaching benefits for students, staff, and the wider community, and underscores the university’s commitment to promoting health and wellbeing.
Hunuato who assumed office at the school clinic five months ago, noted that more than 20 surgeries have been successfully carried out within the period under review.
“Before now, there was nothing like surgery being done here. But for the time I’ve been here, we have performed over 20 surgeries, and the good thing is that for students, it is completely free, while the staff pay a little percentage or meager amount just to cover the consumables needed at the theater.”
“We are offering more services now, and we have more hands to attend to students and staff. I am here, and we have two corper doctors and other healthcare providers available to attend to our patients, which was not obtainable before.
“When I came here, I had the intention of bringing new innovations. We have been able to expand some of the services we render here to the people outside the university, even though it is not on an official basis. But with time, we will do it in an official way by inviting the Commissioner of Health and other health stakeholders to join us at the University and declare it officially open.” He said.
On the issue of funding, the PMO explained that every health institution requires much funding to function effectively; however, the funds raised by the clinic through the Community-Based Social Health Insurance program are grossly inadequate, hence the need to restrategize and look at alternative means of funding.
“No facility enjoys full funding, even in teaching hospitals. For us here, we have CBship, where a thousand naira is deducted from some staff, which we use to buy drugs and do some minor things, but that money is grossly inadequate. Going forward, we intend to adopt new measures, which we will discuss with the Vice Chancellor.”
“Funding can also come from government, well-meaning individuals, or organizations; we have no issues with that. We just need the system to work for the good of our patients.” Hunuato noted.
He also revealed that plans are underway for an expansion of the clinic infrastructure, and the school management is already reviewing the proposal they sent on the expansion plans.
