By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has said that the 5 newly constructed and rehabilitated roads by the Federal Government within the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Owo in Ondo State is part of government’s intervention to boost health care delivery.
The Minister stated this during the official Commissioning and hand over of the 5 internal roads intervention at the medical center Owo in Ondo State.
The Minister, who was represented by the Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ondo State, Engr. Olajide Hussein, said that with these newly constructed and rehabilitated five internal road network within FMC, Owo, already from reports and testimonials of patients using the facility has been a great boost to timely treatment of patients, the easy and speedy movement of emergency patients within and in between wards and also different clinical sections has been greatly enhanced.
Speaking further, Fashola, confirmed that the gap of Nigerian’s infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction of impactful internal roads within varied institutions and Federal Medical Centers.
He said: ”We have successfully intervened in 64 internal roads projects in various Federal Tertiary institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March, this year and we are now having another 18 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 19 roads in similar institutions across the Country making a total of 83.
The entire FMC, Owo community made up of doctors, resident roctors, nurses, trainee nurses, patients and their relatives who use the facility for medical treatment have all expressed renewed enthusiasm and glaring joy with regards to receiving timely and quality attention and treatment to their wards which has both saved life’s and funds since these five roads intervention by the Ministry came into effect.
The Minister also affirmed that this intervention is consistent with the progressive ideal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration’s commitment of improving human condition, and that this process continues here as we hand over these five internal newly constructed and rehabilitated roads within the Federal Medical Center Owo as a critical intervention to support this Medical institution.
Also during the construction of these five roads, people were employed in the process, thereby contributing to the job creation initiatives of the government and it is hoped that the Management the Federal Medical Center, Owo will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Liasu Adeagbo who was represented by Dr. Aiyeyemi Adeyinka Joseph – Head Clinical Services and Director Training was full of deep appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing,
He said to these five internal road network intervention has brought a lot of joy to them as Medical Doctors and much more to the patients they treat, this has boosted their moral to provide quality health care services to patients, who in turn because of the beautiful ambiance of the environment believe that they will be healed once they enter the Facility. Dr. Joseph however appealed that this Sectoral collaboration is necessary and should continue – Bad roads he said are a great danger to genuine attempt in saving lives especially in the movement of emergency patients within different clinical sections for immediate treatment – this is due to the vast expanse of land which Owo Federal Medical Center occupies.
This he also said is a great boost to the Doctors as well who find it now very easy to access wards and patient for treatment and attention.
These roads has also made it easier for Trainee Nurses to move around during training sessions.
Also in the same vein, the Ag. Head of Nursing Services, Mrs Mabel Atinuke Asegbeloyin said that the road network intervention has enhanced smooth transportation of both workers, patients and trainee nurses around thereby making their work easy- areas across different wards and patient are now easily accessed.
Affirming the huge benefits of these roads also was Dr Opeyemi Samuel Salako, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors in the Center, he said this is a very laudable infrastructural intervention which has brought improvement to the accessibility of the knocks and crannies of the facility, especially in the swift movement of patients from emergency points to wards and theatres for immediate treatment.
He appreciated the President Buhari and the Minister while also hoping that more of such intervention to improve health care service delivery in other Medical Centers around Nigeria should be considered.
Signed: Lere-Adams Blessing,
Director, Press and Public Relations, FMWH.
