Irked by the deplorable state of the public health centre at Ibafon community in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ogun State, two groups, Sahara Group and Ovoteri Limited have carried out reconstruction work on the health centre.
Before the renovation exercise, the building showed signs of dilapidation, so much so that the walls looked dirty, dirty; malodorous and boasts obsolete equipment, with minimal manpower. But after the renovation, the once putrid structure radiates beauty, modern equipment, borehole, power generating set and car park, among other modern facilities. The gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to the community and its residents.
The project was in two phases. The first phase comprised structural renovation which entailed removal of the worn out tiles, painting, replacement of the ceiling sheets, sinking of borehole, fixing of toilet seats, doors and door handles, while the second phase consists of supplies of the needed equipment in the health centre.
Hitherto, the health centre which has only six bed spaces opens during the week days and closes at the weekend due to various factors such as unavailability of water, lack of electricity supply and lack of a power generating set. Currently, the health centre has been well equipped both in terms of facilities and personnel. Both members of staff and the resident doctors are eager to provide 24-hour services for the patients.
One of the resident doctors, Mrs Islamiyya Baruwa, a Corps member said she is willing to stay back after her service year to work at the health centre because a lot of things have changed positively since the renovation was carried out.
“Initially, I had no desk to work on. Also the instruments were outdated. For example, there is an instrument for measuring heart rate, pulses and some other things but the one I saw when I came could not take the readings together. It will take them separately which wastes time. But now, reverse is the case because I can check more people in less time than before,” Baruwa said.
Representative of Sahara Group, Mr Tomiwa Adesida and the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility said the company is very grateful to the community for allowing them to operate without any hostility.
He said the gesture was their own way of appreciating and giving back to the community, aside from employing the locals to work in their oil farm.
“We are very grateful to this community for accepting us in their midst for so many years. It is a great honour to be in your midst because residents of Ibafon community are very friendly and co-operative; which is why we are inaugurating this project,” he said.
The Corporate Business Manager, Ovoteri Limited Mr Charles Zuokemefa said the company intends to identify some of the needs of the community and partner with companies that will help to satisfy the needs. He said the government cannot provide the needs of the community, hence interventions such as these are necessary, adding that: “Sahara Group has collaborated with us to satisfy some of the needs of the community.”
Continuing, Zuokemefa said: “It is very challenging for the government to build, run and maintain these facilities, which is why interventions by corporate bodies such as Sahara and Ovoteri go a long way in keeping these facilities operational and functional.”
Executive Secretary, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mr Tajudeen Ijora thanked the companies for their gesture, even as he urged other organisations to come to their aid. He implored inhabitants to utilise the services provided in the centre and asked them to see it as their property.
In a chat with Southwest Report, the Chief Nursing Officer of the clinic, Mrs Celia Oluborode said: “Before it was renovated, we used to have little or no patients but now we have more people coming for treatments and antenatal clinics. We are happy about this and we are also planning to provide 24-hour service.”
A resident of the area, Mr Musiliu Bala said: “I was delivered of my two children in this health centre when it was still in a shambles but now I am glad that it has been given a beautiful facelift.”
Another resident, Mrs Chioma Eze said: “Though am still in my second trimester, I cannot wait to use this facility when I am due to give birth because I have seen new equipment which has imbued the confidence in me and the of safety of my baby.”
Dignitaries who attended the event included the Medical Officer of the local government, Dr Disu Oyewoga, Balogun of Ibafon land who represented the Baale, Chief Hassan Kayode, the Otunba of Ibafon land, Chief Femi Oropo, the Iyaoloja of Ibafon land, Alhaja Bilikis Adeola and some representatives of the Ibafon Community Development Association, among others.
