The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hospital

  • Hospital detains girl, 15, for unsettled bill

    A teenager, Jenefe Osedei, 15, who was knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle on her way to the farm in April, had her left leg amputated.

    After treatment, she incurred a bill of N15,000, which the parents could not pay and she was detained by the hospital.

    The Chairman of Owan West Local Government, Mr. Godwin Aigbodion, described the incarceration of Jenefe, an SS1 pupil of Trinity Grammar School, Uhunmora, by the management of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, for inability to pay medical bill, as inhuman.

    He urged the Federal Government to put in place health policies that would be beneficial to the citizens.

    The council boss visited the hospital and paid the girl’s bill.

    He frowned at the attitude of health institutions to the plight of the citizens, saying people should enjoy free health services.

    Mr. Agbodion said the welfare of the residents of Owan West Local Government is paramount to his administration and instructed the Supervisory Councillor for Health, Mr. Enahoro Aikpokpo, to see to the needs of Jenefe and integrate her into the society.

  • The Nation Reporter visits Suntai in hospital

    The Nation Reporter visits Suntai in hospital

    ON the morning of Thursday, August 23, I read online in some Nigerian dailies that ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, would be discharged from Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home located in New York, United States of America (USA), and flown back to the country.

    Out of curiosity, the reporter in me searched for the hospital on Google Search engine.

    Promptly, the result showed that Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre & Home is located on 460 Brielle Ave, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, United States.

    Staten Island? I asked myself. With me in Staten Island, then it’s time to pay Gov. Suntai a familial visit since we are both from Nigeria.

    After consulting the internet for directions and getting appointment fixed by telephone, I set out on Friday to meet with ‘His Excellency’ at the hospital.

    There, the receptionist, a relatively aged woman, politely pointed my attention to two Nigerian men seen leaving the hospital and about to enter a black sleek SUV, she said that the visiting time was over. Then, the guard, as he scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to the reporter, added, “Well, you can come back tomorrow and go directly to the fifth floor 5-East Wing.” With a thank you, the reporter left.

    On Saturday morning, I left the residence where I was on vacation as early as 6.55 am to join Bus 40 heading for the St. George Ferry Station by 7am. From the ferry harbour, I joined Bus 61 up to Manor Avenue where I was to transfer to Bus 54 for the onward trip to Brielle Avenue location of Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre & Home.

    Face to face with Suntai

    At the hospital, on telling the receptionist that I was there to pay solidarity visit to “Mr. Danbaba Suntai”, I was given a red visitor’s tag that bore the date: Aug 24, 2013 above the inscription ‘Date’. With that empowerment, I located the elevator and pressed the ‘5’ button.

    On the 5th Floor, visitors are welcome to the Elizabeth E. Conelly Rehabilitation Gymnasium with a hanging direction slab pointing visitor’s in two directions namely: “Sycamore Lane 5East and Sycamore Hill 5West”.

    I made for the East which is to the left hand side of the hall. As demanded, I had to stop by the Medical Desk to ask for the Gov’s Room no. But the lady I met, wearing the name tag bearing Dorothy Mointosh-Waddy, Head Nurse, was busy explaining usage of the dispensed drug for Gov. Danbaba Suntai.

    While waiting, I did a quick look-around. And there, he was. I got locked in eye contact with the man himself, Gov. Danbaba Suntai!

    He sat on a wheelchair in Room 503 beside his bed laid in white with three pillows well set aside each one. The name tag on his room read: Dan Fulani. He wore a red T-shirt on an off-white pair of trouser. He also wore a grey coloured sneaker to complete the outfit. On the table beside his bed was a bouquet of white flowers laced with colour pink on the edges with a bold inscription that read: “We love you”. But he did not utter a word to the reporter neither did he move his body. He only raised and lowered his head on the same spot.

    On impulse, he looked up and saw the reporter. Then he locked his eyes on the reporter squeezing his face probably for a recollection. This lasted for over ten minutes judging by the clock on the wall. After a while, he looked away and bowed his head.

    The medications

    A few minutes later, I concentrated on some of the medications being prescribed for the man. A few of those read out: amoxil 4mls 2xdaily, there is another drug he is to take at 9am daily; there is another one he is to take every six hours, a liquid medication in a white container with a few measuring cups and several others all packed in a big brown envelope with instruction that everything must be dutifully taken till August 28th when there would be need for him to change to ‘his’ earlier medication, according to Head Nurse Mointosh-Waddy.

    As soon as there was a brief pause between the man carefully packing the medication into the bags and the head nurse, I asked him if he was a Nigerian. With a big smile, he responded positively and then asked if the reporter too is from Nigeria, he got a yes.

    Then, the reporter told him that she had come to see Gov Suntai. Politely, he said he was not the one in charge of his visitors that his is to see to the governor’s welfare alone. So, he brought out his phone and called the security aide to the governor.

    When the man, who introduced himself as Joseph, got to the reporter, she explained her mission and pleaded for understanding. The first thing he asked was: “Did you tell them downstairs that you are a reporter”. The reporter said no, and then added, “why?”

    “I am surprised you could be allowed up here,” Joseph said with surprise written all over his face.

    “And why is that,” the reporter insisted.

    “Because a male reporter came here from Manhattan yesterday, and he was roughly sent out,” he informed.

    At that point, I mellowed and said “Okay, Joe, I am here now, I need to speak with the governor, let us know the whole story, what actually happened and several others.”

    Joseph said: “I am sorry I am not in the position to permit such. You will have to go to his brother in Manhattan who is the only one that approves his visitors.”

    Sea View Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre is located on a vast expanse of land covered with green lush grass. The structure itself is located at the extreme end of the compound.

    The reporter then asked for the said brother’s number, but Joseph still declines saying he is not to give that to just anyone. At that point, the reporter asked for Joseph’s numbers. And he gave his USA cell number as well as his Nigeria’s number.

    I then asked Joseph if I could talk to the governor while they are taking him out of the hospital in his car on the way home. Joseph blurted, “How can you assume he is going out of here today? Who told you that?”

    I replied: “It was in the newspapers that his wife said he would be discharged and taken to Nigeria today (yesterday) which is why I came so I can talk with him to get some facts.”

    “Is that what you read, okay o. The people that will come and carry him are still back in Nigeria so I don’t know what you mean by he is leaving here today. Na you sabi sha…”

    Suddenly, Joseph switched to the security mood and told the reporter sternly that she has to take her leave and all the pleasantries petered out. Not even the reporter’s pleading smiles would soothe him.

    He walked the reporter straight to the elevator and told her to please leave. Surprisingly, one of the guards on the ground floor, who apparently may have been watching the reporter and the security man, or perhaps, heard the conversations, just came out of the elevator and asked Joseph: “Man, it’s like you don’t want this woman here?”

    Trust Joseph, he just said “Yes, I want her to leave now.”

    So, the guard faced the reporter and asked: “And Ma’am, why did you jump protocol?”

    I responded: “I did not jump protocol because I did not know there was any. Joseph and I just met for the first time in our lives. I collected his two phone numbers barely five minutes ago and he just gave me guidelines on how to see a man who is a public figure, a governor in my own country.”

    The guard looked at Joseph wanting him to either validate or refute my explanation. Joseph did the former and the guard said: “Ma’am, I agree with the fact that you did not know that you have to get clearance before you come here. Now that you are here, I would please like you to take your leave now.”

    As the reporter walked away, the guard gave her such a close marking we almost bumped into each other.

    Then on the Ground Floor, he still walked the reporter to the outer door and firmly cautioned her to please move far away from the hospital building.

    I walked away satisfied that I’d been able to see the governor, although not able to talk with him.

  • Fashola upgrades maternity to mini-hospital

    As part of his administration’s efforts to make life better for the people, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos has upgraded the Ajara Maternity Centre to mini-hospital.

    While inaugurating the mini-hospital, Governor Fashola said that Badagry is the third beneficiary among the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas. He promised to always give support to the mini-hospital.

    He said: “With this upgrade, there is no need for people to go to the Badagry General Hospital because almost all the facilities needed are here. It will also help in reducing the number of patients who patronise the general hospital.

    The chairman, Badagry Local Government Area, Hon. Husitode Moses Dosu said that his administration was committed to the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. These, he said, were in the areas of infrastructural, educational, health and economic developments.

    Dosu further revealed that the Ajara Maternity which is being upgraded to mini-hospital started in the early 50s as a dispensary and later dispensary maternity.

    He, therefore, thanked the governor for upgrading the maternity, even as he appealed for the provision of other necessary equipment for the facility to operate optimally.

    Among the dignitaries that attended the official inauguration were the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Aderemi Kuye, Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, Special Adviser to the governor on Rural Development, Hon. Tunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr. Olusola Adesina Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Olushola Senapon Oworu, among others.

  • Child Right Act: How relevant?

    he Senate sparked a row over under-age marriage recently by voting for the retention of Section 29 (a) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “A woman who is married is of age.”

    In trying to exonerate themselves of blame, the lawmakers explained that the Child Rights Act outlaws under-age marriage and makes it unlawful for any child to be married off before attaining 18 years of age.

    However, the whole issue makes it imperative for us to closely examine the implementation of the so-called Child Rights Act in our country.

    The Act, which issues from the Child Rights Convention, provides for the civil, economic, education, social welfare of the child among others.

    In Nigeria, though the Federal Government has adopted the Act, it is only effective in 24 states. Twelve states are yet to adopt the Act. What are these states waiting for? In the states where they have been adopted, what difference has it made in the lives of children? How well has the Child Rights Act protected children less than 18? These are the questions begging for answers. Let us set aside the under-age marriage issue and examine other areas of the Act that are being disregarded.

    Under the Act, the children have a right to education. In the version adopted by the Lagos State government, no child below 18 should be employed as a house maid. Yet, many are not in school because they are domestic servants in the households of supposedly well-educated working-class families, most of who likely have condemned Senator Sani Ahmed Yerima for marrying a 13-year old Egyptian. In their homes, they do not think there is anything wrong with employing nine, 10-year olds to clean, cook and care for their wards.

    I attended a graduation in one hotel in Ikeja recently where I noticed a young girl, between 10 and 12 years old, standing by the wall, holding a baby. She was apparently mandated by her mistress to stay there and rock the baby to sleep. She looked forlorn; her hair unkempt. She was dressed too simple for an occasion of that nature.

    Not far from where she stood, sat some of the Primary six graduates. They looked smart in black suits and shirts; and the girls had their hair braided with extensions. Those children couldn’t have been much younger than the maid. I tried to think of what was going through her mind as she watched those better dressed children who are more fortunate than her because of her lowly birth. The Child Rights Act is in place in Lagos, but that girl is not benefiting from it.

    I was in a salon on another day fixing my hair when a girl came in to fix hers. Her arrival was noisy because she was chased into the salon by another girl of about the same age. The second girl, called Taiye, was the chaperon. When she left, the first girl, Moji (not real name) told us that Taiye was not in school, but her twin, who stays with their mother, attends school.

    After a while, Taiye returned to check on Moji but left when she saw the girl was not done yet. She returned shortly again with a directive to remain in the salon until Moji finished her hair. While she waited, she busied herself weaving discarded hair extensions she picked from the salon floor. She laughed playfully as she showed the hairdresser what she was doing. Taiye is another girl who ought to be in school; but she acts as chaperon to a girl her age. Of what use is the Child Rights Act to her? Do her guardians even know that they are infringing on her human rights by not sending her to school?

    However, Taiye’s fate is still better than Eno Bassey, an 11-year old from Akwa Ibom who I read is battling for her life at the Burns and Trauma Unit of the Gbagada General Hospital. She was set on fire by her mistress for stealing a piece of meat. The so-called madam ‘imported’ Eno and one Happiness from Akwa Ibom State to serve as domestic helps.

    It is a shame that being a nurse, who is educated and knows the value of good health, did not stop the Madam from attempting to burn Eno alive. It was the neighbours who put out the fire after the girl ran out and rushed her to the hospital. They could not carry her easily because her skin was falling off.

    At the hospital the diagnosis was 95 degree burns. Eno suffered severe injuries to her private part and needs multiple surgeries. A nurse at the hospital said it is a miracle she survived. Again, I ask, what has the Child Rights Act done to save Eno?

    When we think of the rights of children, we should not only happily demonise old men that marry under-age girls. We should also regard educated bankers, lawyers, respected teachers, doctors and other professionals who employ children as maids as evil doers.

    They are as guilty as the child rapists, denying children a right to education; overworking them; abusing them physically and verbally; and neglecting their need for love and care.

  • Fashola upgrades maternity to mini-hospital

    As part of his administration’s efforts to make life better for the people, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos has upgraded the Ajara Maternity Centre to mini-hospital.

    While inaugurating the mini-hospital, Governor Fashola said that Badagry is the third beneficiary among the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas. He promised to always give support to the mini-hospital.

    He said: “With this upgrade, there is no need for people to go to the Badagry General Hospital because almost all the facilities needed are here. It will also help in reducing the number of patients who patronise the general hospital.

    The chairman, Badagry Local Government Area, Hon. Husitode Moses Dosu said that his administration was committed to the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. These, he said, were in the areas of infrastructural, educational, health and economic developments.

    Dosu further revealed that the Ajara Maternity which is being upgraded to mini-hospital started in the early 50s as a dispensary and later dispensary maternity.

    He, therefore, thanked the governor for upgrading the maternity, even as he appealed for the provision of other necessary equipment for the facility to operate optimally.

    Among the dignitaries that attended the official inauguration were the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Aderemi Kuye, Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, Special Adviser to the governor on Rural Development, Hon. Tunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr. Olusola Adesina Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Olushola Senapon Oworu, among others.

  • Suntai celebrates 52nd birthday in US hospital

    Suntai celebrates 52nd birthday in US hospital

    •We’ve seen God at work, says Acting governor

     

    Ailing Taraba State Governor, DanbabaSuntai, will today celebrate his 52nd birthday in the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York United States of America, where he is recuperating.

    Suntai had wanted to return home to celebrate the milestone but doctors advised he waits until he gets a “complete recovery”, it was learnt.

    He has been receiving physiotherapy/treatment in the US upon leaving the German hospital in Hannover in March.

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who visited Suntai in New York and returned at the weekend, said Suntai received him well and spoke on phone with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Taraba Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, also said the hand of God is sheltering his boss.

    “We have seen the hand of God at work in your life,” Umar said yesterday in his goodwill message.

    According to him: “On this day, we once again have the opportunity to celebrate the grace, love, blessings, mercy, and kindness of Almighty God upon our leader, mentor, friend, brother and boss, His Excellency DanbabaSuntai, CON, as he clocks 52 years.

    “Though you are marking the event in far- away United States of America, where you are recovering from the injuries you sustained in the air mishap of October 25 last year, we join you in appreciating God for what He is doing in your life.

    “We do so with an abiding faith in the Creator, that He will bless you (Suntai) with many more years of active and meritorious service to our state, the nation and humanity.

    “We wish you a happy birthday anniversary and many returns.”

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha(Taraba South), who also visited Suntai in New York and returned at the weekend, told The Nation that the birthday celebration will be more of thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.

    “This is his biggest testimony for the governor. His state (Taraba) and the country are joining him to thank God for his merciful wonders in his life,” he stated.

    Suntai’s children, family relatives and friends, including a few leaders from the country, will join him in New York for the celebration.

    His eldest daughter, Miss MariyaSuntai, who bagged her private license as a student pilot from an aviation school in Florida, will also join in the thanksgiving.

  • My visit to Ekiti State Teaching Hospital

    Humpty-Dumpty, me that is, had a great fall. It happened on a wet Sunday evening when we arrived home after a visit to Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ikogosi, Ekiti. Just as I was walking into the house on this wet Sunday evening, I slipped and fell in the mud and landed my whole weight on my butt rather loudly. Humpty Dumpty just had a great fall. I got up picked my pieces together and walked into the house without the aid of the king’s horsemen. A warm shower and some analgesic later, I forgot about the fall until Monday morning when I was riding to work. It became obvious to me that I needed to see a doctor as soon as possible.

    Everyone I asked advised me to go to Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Adebayo in Ado Ekiti. It only made sense to then go and try seeing an orthopaedic doctor at the teaching hospital. I tried to get a number of a doctor or any senior member of staff at the hospital so I could get a fast track service when I get there. However everyone I approached told me there was no need for that. The refrain I kept hearing is, once you get there you will be attended to regardless. After a long listless night I got up early in the morning determined to go see a doctor while preparing myself for the long horrendous queues and delays associated with government owned hospitals. Again, I reached out to a couple of other friends on my way to the hospital, in a last minute attempt to get a name or a number of a doctor or influential hospital staff but drew nothing.

    On arrival at the hospital I went straight to the Accident and Emergency ward. What first struck me was the cleanliness; the whole place smelt and looked clean. I saw patients who were on admission and the doctors doing ward rounds. I approached one of the nurses on duty, explained to her my mission and asked to see a doctor. She directed me to one of the doctors in the Accident and Emergency ward who politely directed me to the outpatient department where he said I will be attended to. My natural impulse was to just leave the hospital and go to the court premises where I needed to attend to some issues but then the pain got the better of me. I found my way to the outpatient department. On the way there I met a young doctor who gave me directions and assured me the process was fast when I asked sceptically how long the process was going to take. I got a hospital card and a case note opened for me in about twenty minutes. It took four simple steps: get a bill, pay at the cash point, get your teller converted to a receipt and get your records taken at the medical health records desk.

    I asked the young man at the records registry if it was advisable to wait or try and come back some other day. He again confidently told me that I will be attended to in a matter of minutes. I stood by the side patiently as I could not bear the pain of trying to sit while I mentally took note of the people who I met waiting and those who arrived after me. I was also trying to see if there were some patients getting fast track access to the three consulting rooms. Three nurses sat at the nursing station. Two were taking vital signs while the third nurse was in charge of sending in case notes to the consulting rooms. In about 15 minutes I was called to get my vital signs taken. I again asked the nursing sister if it was better to come back later in the day but she urged me to be patient, saying that once the doctors start seeing patients it would be my turn in no time. I finally sat back and continued to watch. The patient’s line to see the doctor soon started moving fast. It was soon my turn to see the doctor who examined me and answered all my questions while explaining to me why the effect of the trauma was worse when I sat or climbed the stairs and why he was prescribing the pills for me. I left his consulting room feeling better.

    Next was the outpatient pharmacy department where I was I spent about half an hour, the longest time I spent at a service point. The fact that no money exchange happens between patients and members of staff is also commendable. The cash point is manned by representatives of the hospital’s bankers while a staff also recorded the transaction. At the time I began the process of registration and getting a case note, no doctor was on duty at the outpatient department even though patients were already waiting. By time the nurses had taken my vital signs some of the people I met were already getting impatient and loudly asked the nurses when the doctors would arrive. However, the time between getting my vitals taken and walking into the doctor’s consulting room was about 20 minutes. In all I spent a little over one hour at the hospital. This is not to say that the State Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti is perfect.

    I write only about my experience at the outpatient department and not the entire hospital. There is always room for improvement even in a near perfect system. The process of getting a prescription filled was a bit cumbersome; you get your prescription billed, pay your bill in the next room, get the teller converted to a receipt and you then pick up your prescription from the first point where you got the bill. The medical health records department is a disaster waiting to happen. The whole unit is swarmed and overflowing with files and more files. The people working there must have a magic spell for getting out patients files from that maze. There is no privacy at the medical records unit. You stand across a counter while you are asked your age and that of your next of kin. The members of staff there seemed over worked even though there was clear cut division of labour.

    Overall, the members of staff were all very businesslike and professional. I didn’t see any fast track patient or queue jumping by patients. Everyone sat patiently while we all waited to take our turn. There were enough chairs and benches for the patients. The television at the corner by the nurses’ station was tuned to Africa Magic Yoruba. Some of the patients were following the movies such that they didn’t hear their names called out when it was time to go in and see the doctor. No one asked me to grease their palm or wash their face before I was attended to. I was very impressed and happy. In all it was a good visit. I must commend the government and people of Ekiti. Healthcare service delivery is a key part of the eight-point agenda of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration. I saw the attention to ensuring this goal during my time at the state teaching hospital. Ekiti is working. The people are happy. Health is indeed wealth.

     

    • Olorunfemi, a Barrister at law, wrote from Ado-Ekiti

     

  • Three Ibadan robbery suspects die in hospital

    Three members of a gang that attacked a bureau de change at the weekend in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have died in the hospital.

    They are Ibrahim Mohammed from Igbeti, Muhammodu Babangida from Iwere-Ile and Haruna Saleh from Toll Gate, Ogere.

    The police confronted a six-man robbery gang, after the hoodlums robbed a bureau de change in Sabo around 5:30pm on Saturday.

    Three of the hoodlums were killed in a gun battle with the police.

    The remaining three, who were injured, were arrested and taken to the State Hospital, Adeoyo, by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Police spokes woman, Mrs. Olabisi Ilobanafor, said they died on Monday morning in the hospital.

  • Ajimobi embarks on N850m renovation of state hospital

    Ajimobi embarks on N850m renovation of state hospital

    The Oyo State Government has commenced the renovation of the State Hospital, Ibadan (popularly known as Adeoyo Hospital) at the cost of N850 million.

    The hospital, which is located off Ring Road in Ibadan, the state capital, is the largest state-owned hospital.

    It has been abandoned for several years with visible decays in virtually all sections of the hospital.

    But after visiting the hospital last year, Ajimobi promised to rebuild it to enable it play its strategic roles in healthcare adelivery, which is a central part of his transformation agenda.

    The restructuring, which commenced about one month ago, is due to be completed in June.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who disclosed this while addressing reporters in Ibadan yesterday emphasised the renovation exercise is more of restructuring as most of the units were being redesigned or relocated to different parts with state-of-the-heart medical equipment being supplied.

    The Commissioner disclosed that equipment worth N634 million were already being supplied, pointing out that they include theatre, OPD, ENT, Ophthalmology, gynecology and maxilofacial equipment as well as beds.

     

  • Chevron donates to Osun hospital

    Chevron Company’s Agbami Partners yesterday donated an ultra modern and fully equipped chest clinic to the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    At the commissioning and handing-over of the clinic, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, pledged to improve the health status of the people.

    He said his government has invested all available resources to ensure that healthcare facilities are in good shape at all times, especially at the primary level.

    Besides upgrading public health facilities, he said his government has taken numerous measures to ensure sound health for the people, including a well-coordinated campaign of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation spearheaded by the O’Clean programme.

    The Governor said: “The wisdom of our effort in this regard is underscored by the fact that eliminating the conditions that contribute to or help breed diseases and infections is a very sensible and cost-effective way towards improving the health of the people.”

    The Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, Alhaji Omar Ribadu, said the chest clinic was implemented with the strong support of the state government.

    He noted that the Chest Clinics and Science Laboratories constitute an aspect of the strategic intervention plan of the Agbami Partners in the education and health sector.