Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, commissioned Tede General Hospital, in Atisbo Local Government Area, renovated by the state health insurance agency.
Commissioning the hospital, Makinde explained that healthcare delivery is one of the major pillars of his administration, stressing that the four major pillars are security, education, economy and healthcare.
The governor promised to enroll 1,250 residents of the community, in his personal capacity, into the state’s health insurance scheme.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr Sola Akande, said that the agency is leveraging on the vision of the governor to ensure that healthcare services is available to every citizen of the state.
Akande said the facility had witnessed a monumental dilapidation for over 15 years, adding that the agency ensured that the hospital was brought back to life. He commended healthcare workers, who had continued and persisted in making it accessible to residents despite the dilapidated state of the hospital.
“The hospital is equipped and renovated with new beds, modern theater, upgraded laboratory, electronic delivery machine, borehole water supply system, newly installed 20 KVA diesel generator, solar power, newly constructed fence and street light,” he said
Akande added that there would be continuous training and retraining to ensure that personnel get a hold on the use of the equipment provided for the hospital.
He said to sustain the hospital, the community have to enroll 2500 persons into the scheme so that the hospital can be receiving N500,000 capitation monthly from OYSHIA for its sustenance.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Atisbo Local Government, Fasasi Adeagbo, lauded the state governor for bringing development to the state, noting that the hospital was renovated and equipped despite the economic hardship in the country.
“We thank him 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 medical care anymore,” Adeagbo said.
He disclosed that to ensure sustainability of the hospital, the Local Government will sponsor people’s treatment through the health insurance scheme yearly and also support financially.
Also, Head of the Hospital, Dr Salisu Salawu, said it was a delight for the general hospital, being the oldest hospital in Oke Ogun to have received a complete renovation and state-of-the-art facilities.
“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 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.
“Before the renovation, about 200 to 250 patients were accessing care, but in the last one and half months of its renovation, more than 500 patients received care in July only,” Salawu said.
Some of the patients at the hospital, Mrs Mutiat 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 the people.
