SIR: Nigeria continues to struggle to live up to its limitless potentials. Our institutions long fingered as the harbingers and hosts of corruption, have done irritatingly little to show that we are up to the task of nation-building.
Hardly, in Nigeria of today can we find an institution that does not have a touch of the known monster (corruption) which has affected our growth, and battered our image as a nation in the comity of nations.
On July 31, I was at the State Hospital Saki, Oyo State, with my wife for medical attention. At first instance, we met no one at work except the gatekeeper and the waiting crowd sitting on a long bench. We joined them in waiting for those that will attend to us.
We were later ushered in to the reception to wait for the doctors and nurses on morning duty. This was already some few minutes to 09:00AM on that beautiful morning. Not too long we heard the noise of a motorcycle running towards us. Lo and behold! It was a man in his pool of blood that had just been rushed in to the facility for immediate medical attention. The gentleman apparently had an accident given the bruises and injuries on his face. To everyone’s dismay, no one was on hand to attend to him.
Let us take him to somewhere else, retorted by one of those that came with the injured man. Not too long after they left, the nurse on duty came in, greeted us and started her work. When it got to our own turn, she made clear that she needed to consult, via telephone, the doctor that ought to be at work on what to do. We were right in front of her when the doctor told the nurse that he would not be coming to work being a weekend. I don’t know if doctors are exempted by the government from their duty posts during the weekends. In the end, we had no option than to leave the hospital for medical attention outside Saki.
It should never be a crime to visit government hospitals during the weekend. This is a hospital that ought to be the best being the closest health facility we can ever boast of, as far as Saki-West Local Government of Oyo State is concerned.
Yes, it is said that government job is nobody’s business. But this should not extend to the noble profession of medicine whose goal is preservation of life. Thus, a doctor figures in the scheme of God as he stands to carry out His command. We generally approach government hospitals based on reputation. Healthcare providers are expected to provide medical treatment with all the knowledge and skills at their command and all in the trust that they will do nothing to harm the patient either through negligence, carelessness or recklessness.
Here is appealing to all the major stakeholders and well-meaning individuals in Saki, Oke Ogun community and Oyo State at large to help us put stop to this anomaly. My appeal goes especially to Hon. Gbola Adetunji, chairman Oyo State Hospitals Board to ensure close monitoring and supervision of healthcare delivery at all times in all local government areas of Oyo State.
I applaud the giant strides of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde in the area of healthcare delivery most especially to the people of grassroots in rehabilitating the primary healthcare centres across the state most especially his recent upgrade of the healthcare facility to a Specialist Hospital, but this pronouncement should be matched with supply of medical equipment, personnel, and capable hands.
It is us today; it can be anyone tomorrow. No life should be lost due to reckless attitude of any healthcare provider/giver
- Abdulhakeem Mahmud Raji-Alaufe,
Oke-Sunnah, Saki, Oyo State.
