BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA: The recent mid-term
assessment of the state of public
hospitals in Ogun State by the
Nigerian Medical Association has
shown that there is an abysmal
failure in the health sector
despite the fact that health is the
second on the seven-point
agenda of the government.

The governor shortly after he
was sworn-in as the executive
governor of the state, May 29,
2011 pledged that aged people
from 70 years and above,
children from zero to five years
as well as pregnant women shall
enjoy free healthcare . But, two
years after, the pledges remain
an utopian.

After the first 100 days in office,
the governor reiterated his
commitment to rejuvenate the
health sector, saying he has
declared a state of emergency
in the health sector but, more
than two years after, there seems
to be no change.

According to the state Chairman
of the NMA in the State, Dr.
Edward Jagun, the Ogun state
government has accepted that it
cannot provide the free health
care services which it promised
the people of Ogun state during
the electioneering campaign.

“Health is the second point on
the agenda but our mid-term
assessment shows an abysmal
failure. Primary, secondary and
tertiary healthcare remain
underfunded or unfunded which
have resulted into adhoc or make
shift services. The community
based health insurance services
has remained a “talk show” and
quality hospital services have
become a thing of the past.

Saturday Vanguard findings have
shown that from secondary to
tertiary care level, there are no
Boards. Also, Olabisi Onabanjo
University Teaching hospital in
Sagamu has no Chief Medical
Director as workers were still
being owed over 30 months’
salary arrears .

It was also observed that all the
hospitals owned by Ogun state
have MRI or CT scan, Digital Xray
or fluoroscopy or major
diagnostic equipments and
ultrasound scans except one
hospital that could provide
dialysis.

Further findings revealed that
doctors were being harrassed
by patients and their relatives
over cost of treating the poor
which they believe has been
taken care of by the government
as promised. And as a result of
this infrastructural putrefaction,
hospital workers
reportedly watch patients die
because of lack of facilities to
work with.

The NMA further alleged “poor
quality of investigations like X-
ray and other radiographic
investigations due to archaic
equipments being used; not
seeing patients on time due to
excess work load and burglary in
the hospitals.
“The Teaching Hospital has no
management boards and hence
for every decision to be taken,
the case has to get to the
commissioner who in turn will
pass it to the Governor.

“This infrastructural decay in all
strata is also intertwined with
lack of capacity development and
personnel afflictions which have
been on for some years
preceding this administration. If
there is perceived affliction by
the personnel, this will cascade
down to service provision
because the morale is going to
be heavily dampened.
“The Ogun state government has
committed a lot of infractions
against the medical doctors in
Ogun state and we can only beg
the government to forgive us our
sins”.

While tracing the root of the rot
in Ogun state health institutions,
the NMA state Chairman claimed
that the general decadence was
due to apathy on the part of the
government to improve the
healthcare services in Nigeria.
According to him,the neglect of
health institutions by Federal
Government permeated to
Ogun state with worsening
health indices in the gateway
state.

“Health is capital intensive and a
social contract between the
government and the people.
Efforts by private organizations is
just complimentary to the
government and should not be
seen as another alternative.
Healthcare cannot be left in the
hands of the private sector for
fear of exploitation. Where this
exists, the government serves as
a regulator with appropriate
health care financing.
The solution is not in building
new centers as the
administration wants to embark
upon and NMA says an
unequivocal no to this intended,
unnecessary spending spree.
Specialist centers only cater for
less than 10% of the people. It
will therefore be uneconomical
to plan for the minority and allow
the majority to die. The
government should strengthen
the existing institutions with
appropriate equipments and
personnel”.

But in a swift reaction, the state
government said it is doing its
best in the sector, saying it never
promised free health.
According to a statement sent
by the Information Officer in the
Ministry of Health, Seun
Akinlade,”government re -affirms
its commitment to the health
sector. There are activities going
on which include distribution of
$2m.USD of equipment to
hospitals, refurbishment and re-
equipping of dental centres in
Abeokuta, Ota, Ilaro, Sagamu and
Ijebu-Ode;complete overhaul of
laboratory and radio diagnostics
at Ijaye.

“Major initiatives that are being
finalized for imminent
commencement include the
Ogun State Community Based
Health Insurance Scheme; the
Ogun State Cancer Institute; a
major new Diagnostic Centre and
nine new general hospitals.
“We have just reformed our drug
procurement and distribution
system which will result in lower
healthcare costs for the general
public. Government plans to
continue the refurbishment of
our existing Primary Healthcare
Centres (PHCs) and Hospitals, and
further investment in healthcare
personnel and training.
“We urge our esteemed
healthcare workers to be patient
as we continue to address the
problems that have taken root
over the decades.We also urge
continued dialogue in seeking to
address specific issues raised by
the Nigeria Medical Association
(NMA) affecting its members”, the
statement stated.

Wen the writer said the rot caused by the neglect of the feds on medical issues has permeated into state hospitals, i can only agree, and the past govts has done nothing to improve it.

Now, Amosun's govt is just refurbishing and renovating hospitals all around the state like stella oduah instead of checking on the rots!

The new 9 general hospitals and the world class medical hospital will be a waste. why not work to kill the root of the wahala instead of slapping mortals and splashing paints to make them look externally lovely?

In 2011 when he was campaigning, Amosun promised free health care for children below age five, ditto the aged. he even promised pregnant mothers..... health sector in Ogun State has indeed failed totally. promises made to hoodwink the people in 2011 have
remained unfulfilled in 2013
going to 2014... pple are seriously complaining of failed health
promises..even children pay..old
people pay...we see it we feel it...