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Kafilat Taiwo
The Ogun state governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka has raised concern over the state of health care in the state, saying that the sector is in coma and decapitated state.
Isiaka lamented that most of the hospital lacks adequate manpower and health facilities; which serve as hindrances for proper health care of the people in the state
The ADC guber candidate while speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital added that the present administration has overlooked the health sector by not employing health worker; fused responsibilities are being imposed on health whereby number of patients is more than the workers.
He also claimed the state has a combined 20 medical doctors in all the 20 local governments, while less than 30 doctors are in the Ministry of Health and Hospital Management Board.
He stressed that most of the highly-skilled health care personnel have left their jobs for a better offer since the nature of their jobs in the state is hideous, saying it has brought degrading to the vibrant hospitals in the state.
Isiaka further expressed concern over the negligence of the outgoing administration on health care facilities, and how the favourable health care scheme for both pregnant women and children was eradicated.
He said, “our healthcare system is in coma; dilapidated structurally and functionally. Basic equipment are lacking with ineffective emergency preparedness and low-skilled and inadequate manpower.
“Today Ogun state has 25 state hospitals and 4 Comprehensive healthcare centers – of which just one at Totoro Abeokuta is barely functional. To these facilities we have 200 medical doctors, 650 nurses, 30 laboratory technicians and 20 physiotherapist working in the general hospitals secondary and primary healthcare centres across the state.
“It is shocking that all the 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs in the state have a combined 20 medical doctors while medical consultants at both the Ministry of Health and Hospitals Management Board is less than 30; a very worrisome development that has affected the health of our people; while government continues to look the other way.
“To a population of 5.7million, this is abysmal and inadequate and because Ogun state is currently doing a doctor-patient ratio of 1:6,000 quite below the national ratio of 1:4500; even though all still fall short of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended 1:600.
“This is coupled with lack of basic drugs provisions and very low investment in training and emolument to operators. The once vibrant Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) that was adjudged the third best in Nigeria as at 2004 is today a mere consulting clinic; where the best brains have escaped to seek greener pasture elsewhere owing to pathetic funding and decaying infrastructure. This is not surprising as there is no single CT or MRI machine in any government facility in the state; while the only addition in OOUTH in 8 years is the Ultrasound Scan machine procured through the kind intervention of a philanthropist.
“The state’s community based health insurance scheme called Araya has been operated in tokenism and incapable of meeting the administration’s promise of free healthcare for pregnant women, children under 5 and the elderly – which was lavishly made in 2011; but have proven to be a charade.
“We have taken notice however of the attempt to construct a 250-bed modern hospital, but of course, we are again dumbfounded by the wayward promise by government to fully deliver the hospital by May, 2019; a wild goose chase considering the project is still at infancy at January 2019.
“It is saddening also that there is no pipe borne water in most locations in Ogun state today as our people rely on crowded boreholes, shallow wells, river and other unclean sources of water; that have become responsible for the increase in water-borne diseases in the state. What is more ridiculing, outpatients in most of our hospitals also have to bring in their water to these facilities because the hospitals simply lack it!”.
Isiaka however promised to restore the state health sector, if he emerge the governor of state in the forthcoming election.
He added that the health sector would be one of his priorities when he gets to government.
He said, “What the ADC and I are offering Ogun people is good developmental programmes as enshrined in my 7 Steps to Abundance Manifesto. We have a Greater Ogun State Agenda and we possess the capacity and competence to drive this agenda.
“In answer to the questions and challenges of this state at this time, human capital development will be the focus of the incoming administration; with education and healthcare taking priorities.
“In this development model, Education and Healthcare and Social Security will be the cornerstone of our welfare system”.
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