Ogun Free Surgical Program Helps 500 Patients in One Week, Abiodun Reports

Ogun Free Surgical Program Helps 500 Patients in One Week, Abiodun Reports

L-R: Director Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen; Chief Medic

al Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and Chairman, Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria, Prof. Emem Bassey; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Musa Olomu and others on the back roll during a courtesy visit to the Governor's Office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday

Abeokuta - By Our REPORTER

Published, Friday, March 8, 2024

GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, Prince Dapo Abiodun, announced that over 500 surgeries have been carried out on patients across the 20 local government areas as part of the Free Surgical Intervention Program within the few days of its commencement. 

This initiative aims to assist those who are unable to afford medical treatments during these challenging times.

During a visit from the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria, numbering 72, Governor Abiodun highlighted the efforts made by his administration to enhance healthcare in the State since 2019. 

He mentioned the implementation of the Health Insurance Programs, Ilera Dero and Ibidero for women, as well as the establishment of a database to track and address prevalent diseases within families and communities in order to prevent the occurences of such diseases.

"We have also implemented our Health Insurance Programme called Ilera Dero and the Ibidero for the women. As of now, because of the prevalent economic situation, we have decided that all our women and children, the poor and vulnerable should go to our Primary Healthcare Centres and secondary or tertiary hospitals in the state. We will register them under our Free Health Insurance Programme.

"Our pregnant women, when they go to the hospital, they get free pre and post-natal attention. After they put to bed, they also get N10,000.", said Prince Abiodun.

Furthermore, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of collaboration between medical institutions in the state and praised the efforts to improve medical services for residents, narrating how a victim of a straight bullet was saved by the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.

The state helmsman described the relationship between the state's Ministry of Health and the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, as cordial.

"We do not see the difference between the FMC, Abeokuta, and our own Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), because when there is a problem, we rush the patient to the nearest available medical facility. This has, over the years, helped us in dealing with difficult situations," he added.

The Governor promises FMC, Abeokuta, his government continued support, adding that the State's 250-bed specialist hospital in Abeokuta would be operated by a private partner.

The Committee, led by its Chairman and Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Prof Emem Bassey, acknowledged the state's investments in the health sector, including increased funding, recruitment of healthcare workers, and renovations of Primary Healthcare Centers.

Prof Bassey said the Committee members, consisting of all heads of federal medical institutions, were in Ogun State for its 106th Regular Meeting to review and learn from each other to impact positively in their different hospitals at the end of the meeting.

Overall, the meeting served as a platform for healthcare professionals to share knowledge, research, and techniques to further enhance medical services in their respective institutions.