‘Rivers Healthcare Delivery System Should Meet International Standards’

The business concept of our hospitals is lacking, doctors, nurses and other health workers need specialised training in management, operations and general services.

Ten years ago, Prof Prince Amaechi Ordu conducted a study on the challenges of effective health care delivery in Nigeria with bias for  Rivers State. Today, his projections on health sector reforms are apparently working in conformity with the ideals of the Governor Amaechi administration on effective health care delivery.

Prof Ordu, a United States of America based medical management consultant is particularly impressed with the critical attention the health sector in Rivers State had received over the past two years.

But he believes that there is still much to be done to promote effective service delivery in  the sector.  One of the sensitive areas that is yet to get desired attention in the sector, according to him, is the development of business concept of the hospitals.

Speaking with The Tide On Sunday in an exclusive interview, he said there was need for a combination of medical and business acumen to run the existing hospitals and health centres in the state perfectly.

Attaining these objectives, he said required specialise management trainings and ethical re-orientation for all categories of health workers. “The business concept of our hospitals is lacking, doctors, nurses and other health workers need specialised training in management, operations and general services, apart from the primary role of serving health needs of the people, health institutions are  also business concern”, he explained

To  promote the business knowledge of our health institutions, Prof Ordu, said he had met with the Rivers State Health Commissioner, Dr. Sampson Parker, to discuss collaborative measures. Drawing from the U.S. experience, the seasoned academic said before a medical doctor becomes a chief consultant/chief executive officer of any health institution, he is required to obtain an MBA degree with specialisation in health care management from a recognised university.

Prof Ordu wants similar approach to be introduced in the Nigerian health system to make it work in alliance with  accordance standards.

Prof Ordu is also considering designing health care management courses for univerisites and other health related institutions in Rivers State. This, he said, will avail the various categories of health workers the opportunities of running courses in organisational behavour, basic management principles and also help in training future health care leaders for Rivers State.

Prof Ordu, who hails from Etche Local Government in Rivers State is a published author. His recent book, ‘management problems in selected hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria’ in the final outcome of his research findings conducted ten years ago. The book which is billed for launching in Port Harcourt later this month, examines the organisational pattern and operations of selected general hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria. It also evaluate the degree of efficiency, sources of conflict and methods of administrative control of these hospitals. The book also has a global concept and is approved by 23 universities in US.

Prof Ordu is also a member of the American/Nigeria investment chamber of commerce. He said the organisation had remained a veritable platform where Nigerians in the US use to promote business and investment opportunities in Nigeria.  Prof Ordu also took a swipe on local government chairmen in Rivers State.

He said most of the local government chairmen had not been able to justify the huge  monthly allocations they receive in terms of developing the rural areas.

“I am disappointed with many of the local government chairmen. It is regrettable that our rural areas are still bearing the looks of gross under-development despite the huge allocation they collect monthly from the federal government”, he declared.

According to him, development neglect in the local government areas was a focal point of concern when the Rivers State Government, had a town hall meeting with Rivers indigenes in Atlanta Goregia. He  advocated for a strict surveillance by the Rivers State House of Assembly on the local government system in Rivers State. Prof Ordu also wants the governor to introduce a special award for performing chairmen as an incentive for excellence.

Prof Ordu is the Waden University 2009 distinguished Alumni award recipient. He is the chief operating officer of excellence in teaching, learning and leadership (ETLL) a consulting group based in Atlanta, Georgia where he manages business operations and serves as a consultant. He has experience as a professor, programme chair at the university level. He is also a community leader, change agent and serves as a dean of two programmes, health care management and human resources management at the American Intercontinental University.  

Taneh Beemene