It was a period of jubilation for the people of Jegede-Olunloyo community in Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo state as the community experienced a development that meet their yearning for access to affordable healthcare delivery with the commissioning of a N500m hospital that will provide functional healthcare
The commissioning of the hospital that is named Ona Ara hospital brought out the chairmen of the 35 Landlord association annexing Olorunsogo, a suburb of Ibadan. They all couldn’t hide their joy that an individual has taken the bull by the horn and not put all the burden of the community on the government
The landlords who lauded the initiative, expressed hope that otherw will learn from the development brought to the community by Dr Emmanuel Abiodun Oladipo, a graduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the community through the multi million naira hospital.
The Chairman of the 35 landlords association, Alhaji Kolawole Adebiyi stated that the gesture will not only develop the community but will save lives as timely access to a good healthcare service will go a long way in lifting the health and economic life of people.
The initiator of the project, Dr Oladipo stated that the mission and vision of the hospital is meant to remain a signpost and symbol of functional health system, adding that it is his way of contributing his quota to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
“We are opening our doors and we intend to champion the reduction of maternal and child mortality and administration of vaccines for preventable and communicable diseases. We will create public awareness and sensitization for a clean and safe environment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), effective participation in NHIS initiative as well as general well-being of people for productive engagement,” he said.
Impressed by the magnitude of the project, Senator Monsurat Olajumoke Sunmonu representing Oyo Central Senatorial District promised to donate a transformer to the clinic to guarantee stable electricity supply for smooth operations and be of great benefit to the surrounding communities and localities where the facility is located.
This promise led to another round of jubilations and the landlords could not hide their joy as they thanked the senator, adding that the senator’s promise has rekindled the hope of Nigerians in public office holders. “We are thanking her in anticipation of this kind gesture and we charge other Ibadan sons and daughters to emulate Dr. Oladipo, as erecting such monument will bring development and progress to Ibadanland,’ they said.
Also speaking, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who was the chairman of the occasion called on public office holders and politicians to always see development as their major driver, adding that “we may have different political affiliations but when it comes to development we must all come together to contribute our quota to the development of our society.”
Dr Kayode Obembe, a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) who delivered a public lecture at the event called on the federal government to increase budgetary allocation to health, urging government to comply with the 15 per cent budgetary allocation to health agreed at the Abuja declaration of African Heads of States.
Obembe, who congratulated the owner of the hospital called on the Oyo State Government to support such initiatives to achieve qualitative and affordable health care delivery to the people.
Others present at the commissioning include the Olubadan of Ibadan land represented by Mogaji Abass Oloko and the Oyo state Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Bimbo Adekanmbi.
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