Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday evening, commissioned the newly renovated and equipped Tede General Hospital, in Atisbo Local Government, Oyo State not long after the commissioning of the first cassava-based sorbitol factory in Ado Awaye, Iseyin LG.
He was welcomed by a mammoth crowd including teachers, children, artisans, state security outfit —Amotekun, party loyalists and supporters, who trooped out to take a glimpse of the performing governor.
In his remarks, Makinde disclosed that the renovations and equipping were funded by the state government through the State Health Insurance Agency Scheme (OYSHIA) from capitation on its scheme.
He reiterated that healthcare delivery is a major pillar of his administration.
The governor who was in company of his Deputy, Barrister Adebayo Lawal commented on the four agenda of his administration, saying: “We are collaborating with the security agencies to keep our people safe and secured. The fourth pillar is healthcare”.
One of the representatives of Omo Ilu Tede, who spoke at the event expressed his appreciation to the governor for being thoughtful of the dilapidated building.
“There has not been any sitting governor who paid attention to the hospital and welfare of workers let alone commissioning than His Excellency, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde.
“We are promising you that one good tenure deserves another”, he added.
At the event, the governor also promised residents of the area that the”Light Up Oyo” would be implemented in Tede, as well as the enrollment of 1,250 people in health insurance from the two communities for the next one year.
Meanwhile, Dr Sola Akande, the Executive Secretary, OYSHIA, at the event said that to achieve universal health coverage, there has to be places to access quality healthcare.
“What we are doing is in line with the vision of Gov. ‘Seyi Makinde, who has an objective of ensuring that healthcare services are available to every citizen of the state, regardless of social status or location.
“This General Hospital in Tede is one of the manifestations and what OYSHIA is simply doing is to align with the direction of the government in implementation of qualitative healthcare facilities and equipment,” Akande said.
He further disclosed that the General Hospital in Tede, was dilapidated for over 15 years and worsened by torrential rainfall of over 10 years, but had been brought back to life by the vision of the governor.
He commended the healthcare workers, who had continued and persisted in giving care with the horrendous state of the hospital, before the overhaul of the facility.
Akande said training and retraining would be continuous in ensuring that personnel get a hold on the use of the equipment provided for the hospital.
“The essence of the health insurance with our agency is to have about 2,500 people enrolled in the facility, such that the facility will be receiving N500, 000 monthly from OYSHIA for its sustenance aside what it will get from the government,” he said.
Also, Fasasi Adeagbo, the Chairman, Atisbo Local Government, commended the governor for bringing development to the state.
In his words: “We thank the governor for what he has done because many people in Oke-Ogun will benefit from the hospital, they won’t have to travel to Ibadan for care”.
According to him, to ensure sustainability of the hospital, the local government will sponsor people’s treatment through the health insurance scheme yearly and also be responsible to support it financially and otherwise.
Similarly, Dr Salisu Salawu, the Head of General Hospital, said it was a delight for the general hospital, being the oldest hospital in Oke-Ogun to have received a complete overhaul and state-of-the-art facilities.
Salawu said: “The condition of the hospital was terrible before and like 12 years ago, the whole roof was blown away by wind, but with the help of community leaders and philanthropists, they were able to fix some parts.
“Since the creation of the hospital, it has not received a total renovation and equipping like we are witnessing now.
“The whole hospital has been renovated and it has also been stocked with state-of-art equipment in the theatre, laboratory and even wards”, he added.
According to him, the hospital has electronic delivery machine, borehole powered supply system, newly installed 20 KVA diesel generator, backed with solar power and a newly constructed fence.
It also has street light to serve as a hub for all the primary healthcare centres in both Atisbo and Saki East Local Governments.
He said that before the renovation, about 200 to 250 patients were accessing care, but in the last one and half months of its renovation, more 500 patients received care in July only.
In the meantime, some of the patients at the hospital, Mrs Mutia Yusuf and Mrs Aminat Oladejo, who delivered sets of twins, appreciated the state government for refurbishing the hospital and equipping it for the good of residents in the area.
