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Tag: hospital

  • A NEW DAWN FOR PRE-HOSPITAL CARE IN LAGOS – The HelpStation Ambucycle Policy Waiver Story

    A NEW DAWN FOR PRE-HOSPITAL CARE IN LAGOS – The HelpStation Ambucycle Policy Waiver Story

    Medical Emergency Service in Nigeria witnessed a new dawn when we, at HelpStation, launched our Ambucycle First-Responder Service which we designed to solve the bottleneck posed by traffic congestion and deplorable roads within some parts of the metropolis – critical factors contributing to spiking mortalities due to delayed intervention of trained medics to sites of emergencies. Our Ambucycles aka Paramedics-on-motorcycles not only solved the problem of prompt access, but it also made medical emergency service affordable to a larger class of the citizens.

    However, in 2022, our newfound ‘dawn’ almost got eclipsed by the sudden ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘okada’ by the Lagos State Government restricting them from plying highways. The new policy, for riders’ safety, prescribed specifications for exempted motorcycles whilst exclusively banning passenger-bearing ones. The latter policy posing a major setback for our ‘Ambucycles’ which comprises a medical team of one-rider-one-paramedic.

    To adapt, we quickly resolved to begin training our paramedics to become riders as well. Months down the line, we were confronted with further challenges that made it apparent that our ‘solution’ was neither sustainable nor scalable. The limitations included;

    1. There are a very limited number of trained paramedics in the country, a huge percentage of the available ones are mostly female;

    2. Majority of paramedics we encountered haven’t ridden a motorcycle before and it took a minimum of at least 6 months to get them highway ready; a major rate limiting step for scalability;

    3. The current brain drain in the health sector negatively impacting the ability to retain paramedics even after the huge training cost at recruitment.

    Rather than become overwhelmed by these seemingly endless hurdles, we were left with no option but to petition the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, for his support on a policy waiver to allow ‘rider-paramedic’ teams to ply the highways.

    Thankfully, our petition received favorable attention from the Permanent Secretary, Dr Olusegun Ogboye – a visionary and innovation-driven player in the healthcare ecosystem. After the needed review with the complimentary government parastatals, the ‘one-rider’ policy was waived for all Ambucycle services in Lagos. This is a major win not only for HelpStation but for the entire emergency service ecosystem as residents of the state can now access life-saving pre-hospital care interventions anywhere and anytime without restrictions.

    Read Also: Lagos upgrades revenue collection for hospitality sector

    And why is this feat such a big deal? Available data shows that for every minute a person with cardiac arrest is delayed ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), the chance of survival reduces by 2.1% (Chang, Joshua & Frederic, 2009)1. And, access to pre-hospital care can reduce mortality by 25%2.

    At HelpStation, we envision a society where pre-hospital care is accessible and affordable to all regardless of location or budget. We are delighted by the consequence of this milestone recorded for our Ambucycles towards helping us achieve this goal and we intend to exploit this opportunity to the maximum. Look out for our Ambucycles as they meander through traffic to emergency scenes to promptly deliver medical care before the arrival of an ambulance. It’s indeed a new dawn yet again.

    HelpStation is a health-tech company leveraging innovative technology to provide prompt access to emergency services. You can reach HelpStation via 08149543868 or email info@helpstation.ng. You can also view their services here and follow them on Instagram @helpstation.ng.

  • Foundation takes outreach to hospital, prison

    Foundation takes outreach to hospital, prison

    Coved by the plight of the sick and prison inmates in the society, a non-governmental organisation, Framazaz Foundation, has taken its yearly outreach to Maraba Medical Center in Nasarawa State and Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The foundation during the outreach to the hospital, disbursed ?10,000 each to the 50 patients admitted, while the donation of handmade craft and a sum  ?505,000 was provided for the release of 27 inmates from Kuje Prison.

    Speaking during the outreach, spokesman of the foundation, Medina Salinu, said the outreach was done to mark the birthday of the founder of Framazaz, Nana Aisha Gambo.

    Salinu, who represented the CEO of the foundation, said the celebration is done every year beyond her birthday.

    Read Also: Why foreign hospitals prefer Ghanaian doctors, nurses to Nigerians’ -Ex-UK varsity don

    She said the prison was also chosen for the celebration because they are people who are exempted from society.

    “It’s her heart desire to see people who are less privileged get the help they need”

    “We chose the prison for celebration because they are people who are exempt and society sees them as criminals forgetting that it is the environment that creates criminals”, she added.

    Also, the Deputy Controller of Kuje Correctional Centre, Christopher Peter Jen, commended the foundation for the kind gesture.

    He added that the correctional service had been able provide skills  such as tailoring, shoemaking, upholstery, among others for inmates.

    This, he said, would enable them to fall back on something meaningful when they are released.

  • Ekiti church plans hospital for less privileged at 30

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, throbbed with guests from far and near as a prominent Pentecostal church in the city, Chapel of His Glory marked the 30th anniversary of its establishment.

    It was a week of gathering of brothers and sisters in faith, which featured messages, teachings, prayers, drama ministration, praises and other spiritual menu that lifted the soul of the attendees.

    The theme for the 30th anniversary was: “Blessed beyond measure” with guest speakers drawn from other ministries across the country.

    The anniversary offered ministers, workers, members and guests opportunity to testify to the impact Chapel of His Glory has had on them in every facet of their lives.

    The Chapel of His Glory General Overseer, Rev. (Mrs.) Modupe Salami, said the ministry was forging ahead and breaking new grounds and making impact on the life of the people spiritually and physically.

    Mrs. Salami, had last year taken over the reins of the church following the demise of her husband, Rev. (Dr.) Kunle Salami, who was the founder.

    Salami unveiled plans of the church to establish a hospital to cater to the needs of the less -privileged who lack the resources to access healthcare delivery in government and private health institutions.

    On the intended hospital project, Mrs. Salami said: “Our ministry will soon unveil plan to establish a hospital well equipped with up-to-date state of the art equipment that will be run by the Ministry to take care of the health needs and demands  of the people and that of the society at large.

    “The hospital will be equipped with equipment lacked in the government hospitals. We acknowledge that this project is still a project of faith and we believe God to bring it to reality.”

    On the state of the nation, she said: “God’s intention for our nation is that we should be in peace. God’s intention for us is to have a peaceful atmosphere.

    “One of the promises of God for us was that He has left His peace with us.

    “So, my desire and prayer for Ekiti State and Nigeria at large is that God’s presence will take over the country completely. We had believed God that things will get better, but with the experiences, it has shown that things are getting tougher and tougher, the prices of things in the market are getting tougher and higher by the day despite government’s presence. This is where God’s factor comes in. When men fail, then God’s factor prevails.”

    Speaking on her background before finding herself in the position of the shepherd of a church, Mrs Salami revealed she had her primary and secondary education at Ibadan.

    According to her, she attended the School of Nursing in Ado Ekiti and the school of midwifery in Akure and after that, she worked in the government circle for 15 years before she retired to join her husband in his ministerial work.

    The woman of God revealed that she obtained a bachelor degree in English Language and Literary Studies from the University of Ado Ekiti (UNAD) now the Ekiti State University (EKSU).

    She explained: “I planned to have my Masters but for some reasons, I had to stop it for some reasons. I could not finish it. By the Grace of God, I am going to spend the remaining of my lifetime working in God’s vineyard.

    “If at all I am going to read, I will go to the Bible College and the Ministry’s School of Discipleship to learn more about the Bible. These are what I am going to busy myself doing now that my husband is no more.”

  • FG needs N40b to reconstruct nine public buildings

    …Nigeria’s maintenance culture worrisome

     

    The Federal Government has disclosed that about N40 billion is required to replace nine public buildings that are currently in bad shape.

    The buildings include; the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, a federal government college and four of blocks of building in the ministry of Power, Works and Housing including the powerhouse.

    The government also disclosed that the country was capable of saving billions of Naira annually if members of the public embrace maintenance as they do religion.

    This was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola during the public presentation of the ‘National Public Building Maintenance Policy’.

    The Minister also stated that data from other countries shows that maintenance contributes about 3 percent to South Africa, Canada and United States of America’s GDP.

    Speaking on the importance of the policy, the minister said: “The federal government’s decision on maintenance is an economic decision. It is meant to empower Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid especially those who are artisans.

    “It is also meant to empower the middle class; those who are in small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturers of cottage industry produced equipment and generally drive the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”

    On the financial implication of poor maintenance, the Minister said: “We used nine public buildings as pilot; the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, federal government college and four of our buildings and the power house. The total overview of those nine buildings showed to us that it will cost about N40billion to replace those buildings.

    “We thought that if we pursue maintenance at about N600 million to N900 million per annum, those buildings can achieve their desired life of between 50 to 70 years. If we had N40 billion in any event, instead of using them to replace existing buildings, we should be using them to expand and provide more for our growing population.

    He also said maintenance would create employment opportunities. “If we spend under a billion a year, we found out that we will be employing over 400 people in just those nine buildings.

    “One of the schools will require about 34 people and I did a quick check; there are about 104 unity schools, so if you multiply 34 by 104 for schools alone, you will begin to see the numbers we are seeing.

    “In the ministry of interior alone, if the work begins to get to prison to make sure that there is water, electricity and that roofs don’t leak; just imagine if it spreads across all the police stations in Nigeria because they are public buildings as well. Can we then truly say that there will be no work in this economy?”

    Giving an instance of the workability of the policy, the minister said: “The data available from South Africa, Canada and the United States shows that maintenance as an economy contributes from 1.5 percent to 3 percent GDP contribution and that is massive and that is why I feel I need to let people know that what we have signed unto is enormous and that is why I said this is the work that I have done here that I am most proud of and I hope that I live to see the result.”

    Commenting on recent law prohibiting discrimination against people living with disability, Fashola urged architects to brace up to achieve the five years compliance target set.

    He said: “On the signing of the law to protect people who are living with disability or discrimination, we require five years to achieve compliance. Compliance means that in every public building, a person living with disability can operate, function, climb and descend without assistance. So, apart from lifts, there must be ramps to enable those who are in wheel chairs move freely.

    “So, our architects must brace up in designing buildings at the proper slope. Our parking lots must now have designated number of parking spaces for people living with disability. Our airports will have to be retrofitted and redesigned to provide a dedicated channel for entry and exit points as seen all over the world.

    Read Also: CCT resumes Onnoghen’s trial Monday

    “What President Buhari has done with that law is profound. A new status and new way of life has been presented to us. He has done his job, we must do ours. So, we have to retrofit all those buildings within the next fives years and as we do that, people will be employed and lives will change in one month.

    On whether there would be sanctions for those who fail to comply with the policy, he said: “We all need to work to achieve the purpose of this policy. In this country, people go to churches and mosque not because they are forced to but because they are convinced that it is the right thing. That same attitude applied in going to places of worship should be applied to the maintenance of our building. Let maintenance be our new religion”.

     

  • Police hospital declares Melaye fit for trial

    THE Police Hospital in Garki, Abuja has declared the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, fit to face trial.

    The conclusion was arrived at after several test conducted on the senator came out negative.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of medical Kaomi Amadu said the conclusion was an indication that the senator was not medically challenged as he claimed.

    But, Melaye urged the police to relocate him to National hospital after three days of treatment at Police hospital.

    The police described the senator’s request and actions so far as Nigerian Home Video Part 2.

    AIG Amadu also faulted Melaye’s claim based on medical record from expert.

    Read also: No to siege on the press, says npan

    Melaye, whose Abuja home was under siege for eight days, surrendered to police operatives at the weekend amid drama, which landed him in the hospital.

    The senator is wanted by the police for a case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on July 19, 2018, when he and his armed thugs allegedly attacked police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty on Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road, Kogi State.

  • Army donate equipment to hospital in Akwa Ibom

    As part of activities marking the end of Operation Crocodile Smile 111, the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has donated equipment to the General Hospital, Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom.

    The equipment are hospital beds, mattresses, rolling chair, cylinders with oxygen and consumables among others.

    Presenting the equipment to the management of the hospital in Ikot Abasi on Thursday, the Commander, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Abdu Hassan said the action was to give back to the community.

    Hassan said that Operation crocodile smile 111 was to reach out to the host community to ensure the success of the exercise.

    The commander said since the Operation was officially launched in 2016, it had been able to flush out criminals and other bad elements operating within the Niger Delta region.

    He said that the military would continue to collaborate with the civil society in the discharge of their constitutional duties, noting that the collaboration been a huge success.

    “As part of activities marking the end of Operation Crocodile Smile 2018, and as part of our civil military responsibility, we deem it fit to come here so that we can give back to this community.

    “The need for us to collaborate with our host community cannot be overemphasised.

    Read Also: Army offers free medical treatment in Kaduna

    “We have chosen Ikot Abasi because we have been operating here for the past three weeks, having been around this community, we realised that this hospital lacks some equipment.

    “So we decided to donate some of these equipment to this hospital as part of our civil-military relationship,” Hassan said.

    In his remarks, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Hospital Management Board, Dr David Umoh, said that the action of the military had endeared them to the people.

    Umoh commended the military, adding that programme like that would cement military-civil relationship across communities of operations.

    According to him, the more the people and communities connect and provide information to the military on crimes and criminal elements, the better for the society.

    “On behalf of the government of Akwa Ibom, I want to welcome you to the sunny beautiful city of Ikot Abasi.

    “I want to thank the military, one more time, because if they did not think it through, we will not be here today.

    “I want to assure you that on our own part, we shall put these equipment to use for the interest of all our patients. Thank you very much for the donation,” he said.

    The Village Head Ikot Obong in Ikot Abasi, Chief Obong Etukeren, on behalf of his people, also thanked the Army for remembering the community.

    He said,  “The equipment is going to affect the community positively and we are very happy about it.

    “We are very grateful to the Nigerian Army for what they donated to this hospital for the benefit of this community.”

    NAN

  • Cleric establishes hospital for kinsmen

    Ise-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, erupted in joy last weekend when a clergyman, Prophet Joseph Ologbonyo, inaugurated an ultramodern hospital for the benefit of his kinsmen.

    Ologbonyo, is the Senior Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church,the Church of Boanerges Mercyland, said he carried out the project to give back to his community and provide healthcare delivery.

    The hospital, which will provide direct employment for 15 people in the town, was established by the cleric to provide healthcare delivery to patients who can’t afford high medical bills in government and private hospitals.

    Some guests who witnessed the inauguration include an illustrious indigene of the town and former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye and popular gospel musician, Pastor Joseph Adelakun popularly known as “Ayewa.”

    Speaking about the inspiration behind the hospital, Ologbonyo said the church must be an agent of social change and contribute to the welfare of the people.

    He explained that the church was in the forefront of social

    development in providing education, health and other social services through the missionaries.

    Ologbonyo said: “It is a continuation of what the missionaries brought to Nigeria. The missionaries brought education, agriculture and healthcare since 1842 in to this country.

    “Many of our leaders today benefitted from that legacy. They went to missionary schools and didn’t pay a dime. Some of them were even sent abroad for further studies.

    “Unfortunately most of these benefits are no longer with the church today. I reasoned that all that we need in our society cannot be provided by the government alone.

    “That is why I put this edifice in this local environment to assist my people. We individuals and organisations should also take part and contribute own quota to complement what government is doing.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lagos Island Rotary to build hospital

    Rotary Club of Lagos Island plans to build a hospital, its President, Sanjeev Tandon, has said.

    He said this at the closing of the free eye cataract surgeries Rotary held in collaboration with Geeta Ashram in Lekki Phase One.

    Though Tandon did not give details of the hospital, it was learnt that the club would collaborate with others to build the hospital, which will serve as its centre for medical activities.

    He thanked partners in this year’s eye surgeries. They included Geeta Ashram; Tolaram; larfage Plc; Indian Women Association and Kewalram Chanrai Group Foundation.

    This year, 259 people benefited from the surgeries, which cost over N45million in a private hospital, adding that it was the club’s second deal with Geeta Ashram.

    Rotary International District 9110 Governor Dr Wale Ogunbadejo praised Lagos Island Club for the plan. Specifically, he said in its two years of existence the club has created a record that some clubs that have existed for 40 years have not been able to hit, not to talk of surpassing it.

    He noted that the hospital will cost millions of naira, adding that it can only be built through hard fund drive from corporate organisations. He noted the club’s ‘’strategic partnership’’ for executing its projects, urging other clubs to emulate it.

    He said the club spent over N45 million on the surgeries, at a modest cost of N15,000 per one at a general hospital, thanking members for their good deeds.

    The consultant medic Dr Atima Mayor, who flew in from Kano to conduct the surgeries, said it was his 19th surgery for Geeta Ashram. “Each of the five-day surgeries took about five minutes to do,” he added. He noted that cataract is the most common eye disease and has no cure except through surgery. He advised Nigerians to take care of their eyes.

    At the event, the club honoured personalities and organisations, who have contributed to the success of the surgeries with awards. They included Mayor, Tolaram, Kewlaram Chanrai, and  Larfage

  • Undergraduate who died in hotel pool, was brought in dead, rejected —Hospital

    IN a report, Tragedy as 27-yr-old undergraduate dies in hotel pool on Easter Monday, published last Saturday, the spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi was quoted as saying that the victim, Ayooluwa Oladipupo died while he was being taken to one Oluwalogbon Hospital, Petedo, in Agbara area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

    The management of the hospital, in a statement, has since debunked the police statement stating that the deceased was “brought in dead and rejected”, at the hospital.

  • Salah builds hospital, school in Egypt

    Riverpool forward Mohamed Salah has started the construction of a hospital and a school in his native Egypt.

    Salah who is enjoying an amazing stint in his debut campaign with the Reds, has extended his philanthropy to his countrymen by providing some basic amenities in Nagrig.

    According to SunSport, the 25-year-old is funding the construction of a medical centre and a school for girls in his hometown – a development that will help local girls get easy access to education without travelling out of town.

    Salah who guided Egypt to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990, also paid for the first ambulance in Nagrig and bought medical equipment to help his people. And the manager of Mohamed Salah Charity Foundation and Mayor of Nagrig, Maher Shatiyah has revealed the forward’s desire to keep helping the less-privileged with a specific amount of funds monthly.

    “Salah is a refined person who, despite his popularity, has never forgotten his town,” Shatiyah told SunSport.