The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Association of Resident Doctors under Edo State Government Employment (ARD EDGE) have voiced their criticism towards the State Government regarding its N2.5 billion contribution to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for the establishment of a paediatric centre.
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According to furucinovel, Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the approval of the N2.5 billion for the centre during a visit from the new Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, to Government House on Tuesday.
Okpebholo asserted that the construction of the world-class paediatric centre, which is valued at N2.5 billion, would revolutionize paediatric healthcare services for children in Edo State and beyond.
In their separate responses, both the PDP and AED-EDGE criticized the governor for making such a donation while state-owned healthcare facilities are in a dire state.
The PDP’s statement, which was signed by Hon. Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of PDP Edo State, along with the ARD EDGE statement signed by Dr. Peter Evbuomwan (President) and Dr. Ernest Hills Oamen (Secretary-General), both condemned the governor’s decision.
While denouncing the government’s choice to allocate such a significant amount to UBTH, a federal institution, the PDP pointed out that this decision was made at a time when state-owned hospitals are in disrepair.
Nehikhare emphasized that the people of Edo did not elect a governor to act as a benefactor to federal institutions but to repair public hospitals in the state, enhance capacity, and guarantee healthcare access for everyone.
He claimed that by failing to fulfill this responsibility, the governor has demonstrated that he is unprepared, unserious, and disconnected from the needs of the people.