As part of activities marking its 50th anniversary, the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, has organized a comprehensive free health screening exercise for its staff to promote a healthier and more productive workforce.
The exercise, held on Wednesday at the hospital’s auditorium, featured a range of diagnostic services including blood pressure checks, blood glucose monitoring, body mass index (BMI) assessment, hepatitis screening, urine analysis, and dental scaling and polishing.
Speaking during the event, Prof. Oluyomi Okunola, Consultant Physician and Vice-Chairman of the OAUTHC 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, described the initiative as a vital part of the week-long jubilee celebration.
He emphasized that the hospital’s management believes that “a healthy workforce is the backbone of any successful institution.”
“As a teaching hospital, we often conduct community medical outreaches, but many of our staff members rarely benefit from such programmes due to their busy schedules,” Prof. Okunola explained. “This time, we are bringing the care home to those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.”
He added that the screening aims to encourage early detection of health risks and ensure timely medical intervention to prevent avoidable complications. “We cannot afford to lose any of our staff to preventable illnesses. This initiative is about ensuring that every member of our workforce is healthy, motivated, and capable of delivering quality healthcare to the public,” he said.
Prof. Okunola further noted that the exercise reflects the hospital’s unwavering commitment to staff welfare and aligns with the anniversary’s theme, which celebrates five decades of excellence in healthcare delivery, medical training, and community service.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Kingsley Ogunne from the Corporate Services Department, expressed gratitude to the management for prioritizing staff health. He described the screening as a thoughtful and timely gesture, especially given the increasing workload associated with hospital operations.
According to him, by incorporating staff health screening into its golden jubilee celebration, OAUTHC has not only upheld its legacy of service to the community but also reaffirmed its dedication to the well-being of its most valuable asset, its workforce.
