OYSHMB Chairman, Kunle Bankole tours Jericho specialist hospital, vows to address operational gaps

The Chairman of the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board (OYSHMB), Hon. Adekunle Oladapo Bankole, Esq., has reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to strengthening healthcare service delivery, improving patient safety, enhancing healthcare infrastructure and promoting the welfare of medical personnel across state-owned hospitals.

Bankole made the commitment during an official inspection visit to Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, where he undertook an extensive tour of the hospital’s facilities and interacted with medical professionals, administrative personnel and other healthcare workers to assess operational capacity, identify existing challenges and explore practical measures for improving service delivery.

During the visit, he inspected key clinical and non-clinical units, including the outpatient department, inpatient wards, emergency and accident services, consulting rooms, treatment rooms, nursing stations, laboratories, pharmacy, diagnostic service areas, maternity and antenatal facilities, medical records and other essential departments responsible for patient care and hospital administration.

He also engaged members of the hospital’s management team and frontline healthcare professionals in discussions on the availability of essential medical supplies, functionality of medical equipment, maintenance of hospital infrastructure, infection prevention and control, patient management procedures, workforce capacity and the general working environment.

The inspection provided first-hand information on the hospital’s operational needs and the challenges confronting personnel in the discharge of their duties, with particular attention to areas requiring administrative intervention, improved resource allocation and institutional support.

Speaking during the visit, Bankole emphasised that effective healthcare administration requires continuous monitoring, direct engagement with healthcare professionals and a clear understanding of the conditions under which medical services are provided.

He noted that the Board remains committed to working collaboratively with hospital management and personnel to address identified challenges, strengthen institutional efficiency and ensure that patients receive safe, timely, dignified and quality medical care.

According to him, the welfare of healthcare workers is closely connected to the quality of services delivered to patients, making it essential to create an enabling environment for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, administrative personnel and other professionals.

He further stated that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde recognises healthcare as a critical component of human development and an essential responsibility of government, adding that protecting lives, improving access to medical services and strengthening public healthcare institutions remain important considerations in the state’s development agenda.

Bankole said Jericho Specialist Hospital occupies an important place in the delivery of specialist healthcare services in Oyo State and that sustained attention to its facilities, personnel and operational requirements is necessary to maintain service standards and improve public confidence in government-owned healthcare institutions.

He stressed that the Board would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and promote practical, sustainable solutions, while underscoring the importance of accountability, professional ethics, teamwork and patient-centred care.

In their response, the principal officers of Jericho Specialist Hospital, led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. H. T. Ilori, expressed appreciation to the Chairman for the visit and his direct engagement with the hospital community.

Other members of the hospital’s leadership included the Hospital Administrator, Mrs. C. O. Akanni, and the Chief Medical Officer, Mrs. M. S. F. Raji, alongside other members of the management team and healthcare personnel.

The management commended the Chairman for assessing the institution’s operations and listening to the concerns of its workforce, and acknowledged the support provided by Governor Makinde’s administration to the development of the state’s healthcare sector.

They expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between the Board, the hospital’s management and the state government would further strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve working conditions and enhance the quality of services available to patients.

The visit was accompanied by senior officials of the OYSHMB, including the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anifat Ibraheem; Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharm. Dr. AbdulGaniyu Adedayo; Director of Hospital Administration, Mr. Stephen Olatunde; Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Timothy Adebayo; Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. John Olawoyin; and Director of Physiotherapy, Mrs. Lydia Okunade.

Their participation underscored the Board’s multidisciplinary approach to hospital administration, with attention to pharmaceutical services, clinical support, human resources, financial management, infrastructure and efficient coordination of healthcare operations.

The inspection forms part of the Board’s broader responsibility to monitor the performance of state-owned hospitals, identify operational gaps, strengthen administrative processes and promote continuous improvement in healthcare delivery.