The Nation Newspaper

Tag: health care

  • Health care scheme excites Ekiti community

    Health care scheme excites Ekiti community

    Residents of Ayedun community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State are excited about a local health insurance scheme initiated by Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) president Dr. Kayode Obembe. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) president, Dr. Kayode Obembe has given his kinsmen in Odo-Ayedun, a rustic community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State  something to cheer about by making affordable health care delivery accessible to them.

    The people gathered in their thousands at the Comprehensive Health Centre to welcome their illustrious son, traditional rulers, top government functionaries and other guests from far and near who came to witness the official launch of Ayedun Community-based Social Health Insurance Scheme (ACB-SHIP).

    The venue was jam-packed by people of the three communities serving as the immediate catchment area of the ACB-SHIP scheme. The communities are Odo-Ayedun, Oke-Ayedun and Esun.

    The event was attended by Governor Ayo Fayose, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rotimi Ojo; the Owa of Odo-Ayedun, Oba Solomon Ajibade; the Alaaye of Oke-Ayedun, Oba Fatunase Ala; the Elesun of Esun, Oba D.B. Ogunsakin; Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr. Femi Akingbade who was represented by Ekiti Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Adunola Balogun.

    Ayedun was the first community in Nigeria to launch its own health insurance in which registered enrolees contribute N100 every month and have to wait for at least three months before enjoying coverage benefits.

    Obembe was motivated to float the scheme in fulfilment of his desire to assist the indigent and vulnerable people have access to affordable health which they could be denied by lack of money and low level of awareness of health insurance.

    The ACB-SHIP came into existence in 2011 when Obembe introduced the idea of community health insurance programme to the three communities. The programme was embraced by the people.

    To add fillip to the initiative, the three communities set up a Board of Trustees (BOT) which comprises public-spirited, trustworthy individuals, seasoned medical practitioners and other respectable community leaders.

    The BOT, which was given the free hand to run the programme on behalf of the communities, decided that the monthly premium would be N100 per person which makes N1, 200 per annum.

    In his address, the Chairman, BOT of ACB-SHIP, Otunba Dapo Adelusi, revealed that the scheme has 4,977 enrolees who have been given cards confirming their subscription to the scheme.

    Adelusi further explained that the scheme has assisted the beneficiaries to attend to their health needs at the local health centres while complicated, terminal diseases and serious pregnancy cases are referred to the Ikole General Hospital.

    According to him, an enrolee has to wait for at least three months after registration before enjoying coverage benefits.

    Adelusi told the gathering that the NHIS officials visited the ACB-SHIP BOT and acknowledged the efforts the scheme had made in Ayedun and the adjoining communities in the area of health insurance.

    Adelusi explained further: “Other steps were taken to ensure that the programme is well established. An office was opened for the administration and a computer-literate graduate was employed as administration secretary.

    “The BOT meets monthly and the minutes of the meetings are well kept. An account was opened with a commercial bank and all financial transactions are through the bank and clear records of such transactions are properly kept.

    “A benefit package was drawn up by the Programme Manager and the BOT to enable the enrolees to know the coverage of their health insurance. Currently, owing to very limited financial strength, health insurance coverage is at the primary health care level only and for diseases prevalent in the communities.

    “Complicated and terminal diseases, and particularly complicated pregnancy cases are promptly referred to secondary health care at the General Hospital, Ikole. An enrolee has to wait for at least three months after registration before enjoying the coverage benefits.

    “The programmer’s health care providers-doctors and nurses-give health talks to advise the public on what to do when they are sick and where to access medical treatment. They are also informed about preventive measures to keep illness at bay.

    “The premium paid has not been able to meet the programme’s financial needs. The facilitating Programme Manager (Obembe) has been of tremendous technical and financial assistance to keep us going.

    “He has helped in paying the salaries of the staff and constantly securing the services of doctors at the Ayedun Health and Maternity Centre which provides the health care services at the primary level.

    “On this happy occasion, we thank the Federal Ministry of Health through the NHIS for accepting to perform the national launch at Ayedun here.

    He also urged the Federal Government to make health insurance compulsory for Nigerians as a means of fulfilling the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a component part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

    Obembe said there should be a drastic reduction in pocket expenses on health, hence all Nigerians should utilise the opportunity of health insurance in their quest for quality health services.

    According to him, it is impossible to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through insurance scheme when enrolment is voluntary as obtained under the NHIS.

    To make the scheme practicable, Obembe urged the Federal Government to increase its expenditure from the present five per cent to 15 per cent in line with the resolution of African leaders made in 2000.

    Obembe said: “The socio-economic development of the country depends on the health of her citizens. Ensuring that access to affordable, quality and equitable health care is critical to improved citizen’s health.

    “The NHIS, which has been operational since 2005, has covered only seven per cent of the entire population. The total health expenditure was 6.7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009, more than the baseline of 4.5 per cent. Out-of-pocket spending is more than 60 per cent total health expenditure instead of the recommended 10-15 per cent.

    “Efforts should be aimed at targeting the poor and the vulnerable groups. Health insurance should be made mandatory. It is impossible to achieve UHC through insurance schemes when enrolment is voluntary.

    “This is the pilot platform that can be positioned in any community in Nigeria and make health care delivery accessible and affordable.

    “Ayedun Community-based Health Insurance Scheme is the solid foundation on which UHC should be erected if replicated all over the country.”

    The Acting Executive Secretary, NHIS, Akingbade, commended the Ayedun community for floating ACB-SHIP, saying the launch will create a platform for “reaching the unreached.”

    Akingbade said: “The inauguration of the community-based health insurance scheme in Ayedun will create the opportunity and platform for reaching the unreached. The scheme is working assiduously to address the vulnerable groups in the society.

    Governor Fayose urged other illustrious citizens to assist their communities by complementing the efforts of the government to make health care delivery available to the citizens.

    He commended Dr Obembe for his gesture in initiating the scheme, urging more residents to enrol to enable them to benefit from the scheme.

     

  • Free health care for residents

    The lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mojisola Lasbat Lawal, has organised a five-day free dental care for residents of her constituency.

    The programme, which began at Oluwole Health Post, Apapa and ended at Ojora Palace, was organised in conjunction with MOCARE Initiatives. It was aimed at fulfilling the electoral promises made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain. The focus was on dental consultation, medication, screening and treatment.

    Speaking at the event, Hon Lawal said the gesture was to enable residents enjoy dividends of democracy.

    According to her, their primary assignment as members of the House of Assembly may be lawmaking, but that would not hinder her from fulfilling promises made to the people.

    The lawmaker said dental care was chosen among other health challenges because only few people pay attention to the issue.

    She, therefore,  urged residents to ensure that all parts of the body are well taken care of, saying no one is expected to wait until he/she is affected with diseases on any part of the body before going for medical treatment.

    Hon Lawal pledged to organise eye, hypertension and diabetics screening after the exercise.

    The Head of the Dental Consultancy team, Dr Oladipo Bamgbose, thanked Hon Lawal for organising such an event, saying it would enable the people to know their dental status.

    He said it was very sad as the government doesn’t pay much attention to dental or oral health.

    He thanked the Lagos State Government for the awareness, even as he urged that more of such programmes be organised for the benefit of the people

    Dr. Bamgbose urged the people to ensure that they visit a dentist at least twice a year for oral examination, saying  mouth is the gate way to the body and whatever we take through the mouth goes down through the body and gives nutrient to other parts of the body.

    According to Bamgbose, some of the drugs people take are placed under the tongue for effective use. So, for good health, oral health is very important.

    Sharing his experience during the exercise, Bamgbose said: “I advise that we should brush our teeth twice daily, in the morning immediately we wake up and at night when we are about to go to bed. Secondly, we should endeavour to visit the doctor regularly for medical checkups.

  • Photo : Ogun commits to affordable health care

    Photo : Ogun commits to affordable health care

    The Ogun State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga (middle), The Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Ogun chapter Dr Mrs Adenike Odewale (right), The former Senate member Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (A.G.M)/Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State branch recently in Abeokuta.
    The Ogun State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga (middle), The Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Ogun chapter Dr Mrs Adenike Odewale (right), The former Senate member Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (A.G.M)/Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State branch recently in Abeokuta.
  • Activist urges govt on health care delivery

    Activist urges govt on health care delivery

    A founding member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Comrade Linus Ezeala Okoroji has appealed to the federal, states and local governments to give priority attention to the nation’s health sector, with a view to improving the quality of health care delivery to the citizens. He also advocated a policy that would reduce the cost of accessing health care by poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

    Comrade Okoroji spoke after a church thanksgiving service at St Matthew’s Catholic Church, Maiyegun-Oro Street, Amukoko Lagos State penultimate Sunday. The event was organised by members of his family, friends and well-wishers to thank God and celebrate his survival of grave accident he had in Oshogbo, Osun State in January, last year.

    The activist maintained that there was urgent need to improve the equipment and standards of treatments at our hospitals, even as he canvassed strong support to states and local governments that campaign to ban or reduce the operations of motorcycle operators, popularly called okada.

    He said: “I support the initiative of the Lagos State Government and any other state in Nigeria to restrict the use of okada as means of transportation on our highways. The use of okada as a means of transportation demeans the dignity of our citizens. It is not only an extremely dangerous means of transportation but also that which is fraught with high rate of death occasioned by serious accidents resulting from undisciplined behaviours among okada operators.”

    Speaking from experience, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Humanity Services Project (HSP) noted that “having been a victim of okada accident for which we are thanking God today for saving my life, I will not wish my ‘enemy’ boards an okada to anywhere and from anywhere. After the accident, I was taken to the Government House Clinic for first aid, thereafter transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi in Lagos where I was hospitalised for six months.  I underwent four surgery operations while on admission.

    “It was an opportunity for me to witness firsthand the ugly experience of many poor Nigerians on health care issues. In spite of my horrific situation, I had no choice than to turn a ‘philanthropist on bed’, out of the generosity of Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Raji Fashola, friends and well-wishers, as I supported many co-patients who were not able to meet the payment of their bills and purchase recommended drugs.

    “My bills were very enormous as treatment at the hospital was very expensive. Governors Aregbesola and Fashola had to pick all my bills at Igbobi Hospital.

    My mentor; Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) deserves special appreciation as he visited me several times at Igbobi and kept close tab on my condition. God bless them and all who supported me through my trying period.”

  • ‘Make health care affordable to Nigerians’

    Promoters of the Invitro-Fertility (IVF) technology, also known as test-tube babies, have called on governments to  make healthcare at all levels affordably to the citizenry.

    Doctors Preye Fiepai and Eli Shikari, Gynaecologists made the call at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Bridge Clinic-an IVF centre, held in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital recently.

    The duo held that assisted conception remains the only solution to the increasing problem of infertility among couples, but regretted that high cost of accessing the process is a challenge to many Nigerian families.

    They appealed to governments at all levels, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and organized Private bodies to rally around these families by helping in subsidizing the cost of this treatment the same way they gave support to Ebola and HIV/AIDS, patients to overcome their challenge.

    Fiepai noted that including IVF treatment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would go a long way in achieving this.

    He said, “We hope that health care in Nigeria will be made more affordable to those who require it, especially in the area of assisted fertility.

    “This is because one of the main challenges people face is the cost of receiving care. Beyond assisted conception, not many people are able to afford services in private clinics, and unfortunately the public health system is not able to meet a lot of our needs.

    “The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), is one way that we can achieve this and we hope that as the years go on, the Scheme will be open to provide services to those who are unable to pay from their pockets.

    “In most civilized countries nobody pays out of pocket for this kind of services, you can only do so if you have a pull from which money is provided.”

    In his view, Shikari called for increased number of centres and clinics where the treatment could be accessed in the country as in parts of other African countries.

    “Some of the indications for IVF treatment to include, women who experience unexplained infertility, those that suffer both tubal blockages, those men that suffer low sperm count among others.

    “With this technique women that are infertile can have their babies. IVF technique was discovered in the United Kingdom (UK), in 1978.

    “Although the fertility rate in Nigeria is high, the infertility rate is quite high and it is attributed to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) otherwise known as infection, which resulted in tubal damage in women, and with the assisted conception technique the problem of infertility can be surmounted.

    “I observe that the treatment (IVF), centres in Nigeria are still not enough; there are so many of the centres in Egypt and South-Africa but it is not so in Nigeria, despite that Nigeria was one of the first African countries  to introduce IVF technique( 1980).”

     

  • Council inaugurates health care centre

    Council inaugurates health care centre

    Before the expiration of his tenure in office, the former Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Abdlefatai Oyesanya inaugurated a public health centre for the people of Idera Ajegunle in Owode area of the council.

    The council chief said improvement in the health sector in the council was part of the fulfilment of his electioneering campaign promises.

    According to him, health issues have been his priority, even as he said it informed the inauguration of free drugs, free delivery packs for pregnant women and proper documentation of health records in the council.

    He said the free medical treatment was available in different locations across the council, adding that drugs and medical personnel are on ground to attend to patients at all time.

    “The provision of health care for the people is one of the major promises to the people during our electioneering campaigns before we came on board. Today, we have provided more than enough health care centres across the council and we promise to do more,” he said.

    Oyesanya therefore called on the people of the community to maintain the facilities at the centre so as to sustain it for the future generation.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, the Onikosi of Ikosi land, Oba

    Samuel Alamu Kehinde said the chairman had been contributing to the development of the community ever since he came on board as the

    council chairman.

    Describing the chairman’s achievements as giant strides, the monarch said he

    was not surprised that the council chief constructed the health centre for the people of the community because he has been working hard to improve the living standards of members of the community.

    He urged other council chairmen across the country to bequeath landmark achievements in their respective domains so that their names will be etched in the minds of the people when they leave office.

    “I want to advise other council chairmen to imitate him so that their names will not be forgotten as soon as they leave office,” the monarch said.

  • Pay attention to your health, Nigerians urged

    Nigerians have been urged to pay attention to their health by having regular medical check-ups.

    This, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Gowon Estate Hospital, Ipaja, Lagos, Dr Emmanuel Sunday Akinyemi, will ensure longevity.

    Akinyemi spoke at the pre-harvest N100 million fund raising programme for equipping St. Joseph Hospital by the church’s Harvest Committee in the estate.

    The event was held at De Santos Hotels and Suites, Akowonjo, Lagos.

    Akinyemi said governments at all levels should partner with the church to increase funding of healthcare.

    He said more Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres should be built in every local government to avoid mass drift and unfortunate surge to general hospitals and other Tertiary Health Institutions.

    He urged policymakers have been enjoined to increase the budgetary allocation to health.

    This, he said, will arrest the attendant increase in the mortality rate, saying the poor cannot afford to access treatment in the private hospitals.

    Akinyemi warned against self-medication, adding that people need to use only drugs prescribed by doctors.

    He identified some deficiencies, such as obsolete facilities, inadequate personnel and lack of medically qualified professionals to manage such ultra modern medical facilities.

    He thanked the committees for deeming it fit to raise fund to drive the effective healthcare delivery service.

    He urged well-meaning people  to assist the church to arrest the rising medical challenges in the society.

    Akinyemi said the government alone cannot shoulder the ever increasing responsibilities of the sector, hence the need for individuals to help out.

  • ‘Unity key to a viable health care’

    Health care workers have been urged to live harmoniousely with one another to move the sector forward.

    Giving this charge was the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke at the Maiden Pharmacy Week of the hospital.  It has the theme: Expanding roles of pharmacy: Towards improved patients’ quality of life.

    Oke said key players in the sector need to work together to ensure that patients get quality care.

    Besides, the health team should see themselves as partners in progress and not “competitors” as the case is presently.

    The pharmacist in medical practice, he said, has evolved over time from supplying drugs to focusing on caring for patients through discriminate drug dispensing, to comfortably adapt to the current demands of the profession as an addition of service delivery.

    Modern pharmacist, he said, should be equipped with adequate knowledge of modern technology and practices to be able to contain and withstand any challenge from patients and their job.

    He charged Nigerians to frown at self-conviction in the area of self-diagnosis and self-medication because all sicknesses do not have the same symptom. “Headache in two different individuals may not necessarily mean the same condition,” he said.

    Guest Lecturer and member of LASUTH Board, Mr Lere Baale said people die from medical errors than clinical errors, adding that care must be safe, timely and effective.

    He pharmacists should join doctors to do ward round and prescriptions as it is done in advanced countries but with the patients’ confidentiality involved.

  • ‘PPP ‘ll boost health care’

    Experts have called for collaboration between the government and the private sector to develop health care at the grassroots.

    A former Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Leke Pitan, said with collaboration between the public and the private sectors, there would be progress and the people would be the better for it.

    Pitan, who spoke at the inauguration of El-Lab Medical Diagnostic and Research Centre in Lagos, said partnership usually brings about increased access to health care.

    “It will also provide opportunity. For training and development of health workers,” he said.

    He said India was able to develop her health sector because of collaboration between the government and the private sector.

    Pitan praised Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and the Centre for Collaborating, adding: “Other LGAs and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) should emulate them to attract manufacturers of health care equipment to the country.”

    He said they should make the environment conducive for investors, stressing this is the way forward for the health sector.

    Council chairman, Mr Ayodele Adewale, said the centre is important to ensure accurate treatment because doctors cannot treat a patient without clinical diagnosis.

    He said council’s health projects aligned with the state’s policy which ensured 24 hours free medical care. This, he added, was not present in other states.

    Adewale said the LGA would be glad to have more investors come to the area to develop the sector.

    He said the centre has collaborated with the LGA and it is giving 10 per cent discount of diagnosis to the council which offers different free health programmes.

  • How to make health care affordable

    How to make health care affordable

    OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes that affordable and good healthcare delivery is possible if only the government and the people play their roles.

    Often, the complaints of many is that they do not have money to take care of their health. Even at the point of death, they are hoping that someone will pick up their hospital bills. Should that be the case? No, says a panel at the health forum tagged: “Democratising health care”, organised by the Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) in honour of Prof. Oyin Ade-Elebute to mark her 80th birthday. Nigerians, they argued, must be responsible for their health, and as such change their mindset of expecting the government to provide about 80 per cent health facility/structure and drugs.

    The panelists were professor of political economy and management expert, Prof Pat Utomi; Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Akin Osibogun; former Lagos State Health Commissioner Dr Leke Pitan; Group Managing Director (GMD), Hygeia Nigeria Limited, Mrs Fola Laoye; Executive Director, Total Health Trust Limited, Dr Ebun Sonaiya and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Mr Patrick Okigbo.

    According to Utomi, revolution jumpstarts any meaningful development, “but revolution is not limited to riots or carrying of weapons or staging protest. Discussions, such as this, thermostat people into action. Part of the revolution is the discussion being held here today.”

    He said: “Nigerians deserve good healthcare and it is time they started buying into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). They should not wait for the government to provide everything before they could enjoy qualitative life. If they could recharge their handsets, they are capable of saving towards a better healthcare for themselves.”

    Utomi said there could be a revolution of ideas, new ways of doing things. A lot of Nigerians, he said, believe they cannot get good healthcare and have given up.

    “They are using different kinds of ways to obtain health care, which is why life expectancy is low. Nigerians, a poll had found out, believe healthcare can be accessible by all- the poor and the rich alike.,” he said.

    He continued: “There are different ways of realising that. For example, subscribing into NHIS and taking money directly from oil revenue based on the capital of Nigerians that are available. Importantly, we need to educate people that their health is more important than the title, speaking on the phone for two hours and other things they commit their resources to such as parties and wanton luxury.

    “If they commit their money into NHIS for instance, no corruption can take it like pension fund. They can hold people with faces accountable such as the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMO), just as they can hold telecommunication companies, which they subscribed to accountable. It is a right and they must get it. See what APC is doing with school health and food. If this wastage in government is stopped, Nigerians can be provided with good health, education and food. “See what is going on in Brazil and India why can’t we do the same here in Nigeria. If there are more healthy people, the government gets richer because more people would work and be economically productive. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”

    To Prof Osibogun, maintenance of the structure and equipment are some of the banes the health sector faces. “When structure and equipment are in place and cost of maintenance is rather high. It is always a mirage when patients come in droves and the equipment is not available because it has broken down. Negligence of infrastructure is the blight of health structure.”

    Mrs Laoye was of the opinion that providing good healthcare to Nigerians is possible going by the success story of Kwara State community health insurance, which Hygeia piloted. “If more people pooled resources together and the money is aggregated, it would be easy for all to access good healthcare on a timely and affordable note. There is need for re-distribution of wealth. Redistribution is important, so all can be able to access health. Less than five million Nigerians have access to NHIS out of the 160 million Nigerians. I have confidence that Hygeia success story can be replicated at the national level for the benefit of all Nigerians,” she said.

    According to Dr Sonaiya, Nigerians should as a matter of urgency, change their mindset that money put in health sector is money put down the drain. “If people contribute into NHIS, there would be good healthcare and other job opportunities such as cooks, nurses, medics and the generality of the health force, as more patronage would involve more hands to be attended to.

    “There is a national policy. The problem is implementation. Nigerian government cannot provide anything for free. The government is not spending on anything. It is a case of Bishop getting fat and the church, getting lean. Anytime Nigeria tends to be discussed, I slip into depression. Revolution is going too far. Some transformation is necessary, but not revolution involving weapons and destruction.

    “People in government should have a rethink and leave good legacy. If not for some men that thought it wise that free education and health should be available, men like me would possibly have ended up at the back of danfos,” said Dr Sonaiya.

    Dr Pitan was of the opinion that it is high time all thought out of the box, “By democratisiting healthcare, we want to ensure that the health outcomes and health indices of Nigerians such as life expectancy, maternal mortality rate; infant mortality rate and survival rate for many illnesses are at their lowest and are comparable to those of other advanced nations,” Pitan said. Many things, according to him, are responsible for the poor indices.”

    He spoke of problems with health system financing, such as limited access to low interest financing for healthcare improvement, challenges with achieving buy-into existing health insurance system, like NHIS, Low PPP initiatives in health.

    Other problems, Dr Pitan said, are problems with human resources management: Inadequate number of properly trained healthcare professionals especially in the medical super-specialties, challenges with brain drain; poor infrastructure planning. Inadequate number and poor locations of well-equipped healthcare facilities and limited specialty centres.

    He further identified challenges with healthcare administration as square pegs in round holes, poor management of health facilities, low private sector participation and integration.

    Dr Pitan said there is under performing public health structure, such as poor human resources, reactionary rather than prevention focused and endemic poverty, such as inability of a majority of the population to purchase the needed healthcare due to their poor socioeconomic status.

    Dr Pitan said the way out is to address the factors and ensure a level of equality, good governance and development all of which are essential tenets of a democratised nation.”

    Mr Okigbo said the few success stories recorded in some of the PDP states was as a result of, “nerve-racking achievements seen in some APC – controlled states such as Lagos under Governor Babatunde Fashola, that propelled more PDP states into action. “Nigerians must take their destiny in their hands by demanding for a better health care,” he said.

    Prof Utomi concluded that, “the occasion is a good way of setting agenda for the government and the governed because legacies live after men. The contributions of Prof (Mrs) Elebute to the health sector are overwhelming. Dr Sonny Kuku was a student and perhaps her oldest and at 80, she is being celebrated for those sacrifices and seizing opportunities to influence life.

    “Permit me to read a quote, ‘When wealth is lost nothing is lost; when health is lost something is lost, but when character is lost everything is lost’. Our leaders have lost their character, Nigeria is lost”.