The unhealthy Ondo state health Sector
By Abraham Babaegbe
Does anyone need introduction to what an ideal health system should be? No! But definitely, everyone needs an introduction to what an unhealthy health system is!
Without much ado, a glaring example of a state boasting of statelessness of its health system is ONDO STATE!
Without sounding immodest, Ondo state had one time or the other been rated as tops in the provision of qualitative and affordable health services.
Those glorious times came under the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu and the political Maradona of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko with each administration having global awards to its credit.
And today in the state of sunshine, its been almost seven years of AKETI’S movement without motion in the heath sector!
The plagues include but not limited to …
1. scrapping of the state school of Nursing to pave way for the Unimed Teaching hospital policy.
2. Conversion of the State Specialist hospital, Akure to an extention of the Unimed teaching hospital, Ondo.
3. A meaningless decision of sending hundreds of competent health workers out of the defunct State Specialists’ Hospital, for the take off of the Unimed Teaching hospital annex in Akure.
Is this write-up intending to single out the Unimed Teaching hospital Akure annex as its focus?
In general term, yes because it is situated in the state capital and what obtains there is not different from other state owned health institutions in the state .
Regardless of the Crawling reconstruction of the office complex which lacks an appearance of modern structures, the existing departments are shadow of the glorious days.
From the Obstetrics and genealogy department, to the children ward, from male and female medical and surgical wards to the accident and emergency, we are in serious trouble as a state.
All the above mentioned units or departments have practically gone into extinction as shortage of competent staff, though, no thanks to the Japa syndrome, is evidently pronounced.
Is Japa syndrome also affecting water supply to the departments? Decaying toilet facilities breeding millions of mosquitoes that are combating already distressed patients!
The Unimed teaching hospital annex Akure has become a centre of COME WITH ONE AILMENT AND GO HOME WITH MULTIPLE!
One light bulb in a twenty-eight beding facility with nurses and doctors writing case file with torchlight of their phones.
How can one explain a situation where medical officer would recommend test for a patient and insist that the same test be carried out at three designated laboratories just for the same M.O to get rebate later from the laboratories?
Who is guilty among the CMD Prof Ige, SA on Health Dr. Faduyile, Commissioner for Health Dr. Ajaka and the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu?
My candid opinion is that the Akure Annex of Unimed teaching hospital should be made to stand on its own or the state government revert it to STATE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL.
I will equally advise that the entire management team of the unimed teaching hospital, Akure be taken to the Federal medical centre, Owo and the Federal teaching hospital, ido-ekiti for refresher courses.
It is imperative for the Acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to save the face of his principal by urgently paying unscheduled visit to the Akure Annex of the Unimed teaching hospital.
At least, the Acting governor is no longer servicing gladiators both within and outside the state to escape impeachment or in getting his status changed from deputy to Acting Governor.
The power mongers in the state must ensure that double of energies dissipated on the MAD INTERLUDE occasioned by their inordinate ambition that nearly crippled the state must be channelled to Good Governance now.
Till the return of Governor Akeredolu, Lucky should at least, make imprints that will uplift governance in the state.
This is just the first episode because ONDO STATE HEALTH SYSTEM IS DECAYING.
Abraham Omo Babaegbe writes from Idanre.
