…refurbishs Okun Alpha medical centre

By Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

Late Mrs Bola Ojo was confirmed pregnant shortly after she wedded her husband.  The joy of the couple knew no bound as the doctor announced that she  was  pregnant. But little did they know that their joy would be permanently cut short by the same pregnancy.

Hoping to become a father soon, Mr Kayode Ojo was very proud of his wife.

Since they reside in a remote village where there were no access to good hospital, Bola shuttles from the village to the town for her ante natal in one of the government’s hospitals.  Bola was not the only one affected by lack of hospital facilities in the community. 

Members of the community are forced to travel  long distance for their health needs. Unfortunately, not many can afford to travel far as many of the people are poor and have no means to travel far.

Most hit, were the pregnant women who have no choice than to patronise  the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the community.  . Although, the community TBAs have shown some kind of expertise in delivering these women of their babies but many of these helpless women have lost their lives as a result of complications. The ones who survive suffer Veiscular Fistula (VF) due to long hours of  labour while some did not live to tell their stories.

Unfortunately, Bola never lived to tell her stories as her labour started in the middle of the night and the only option was  to take her to  one of the TBAs.

Grace Adebayo 5, was also a victim of poor health facilities and ignorance about what to do when malaria came knocking. Grace was full of life until one afternoon when she came back from school shivering. Grace mother, a single mother was not at home as she had left the house early to hawk pure water to put food on the table. Before  Grace mother was able to rush her to a government hospital in the town, she died.  Many Nigeria women and children have lost their lives in such circumstances.

But if the recent people -oriented project by Chevron Nigeria Closed PFA Limited (CNCPFA) in communities such as Okun Alfa in Etiosa Local Government Area of Lagos State is anything to go by, many of these needless deaths would be drastically reduced.

Last week a well equipped  Modern Health Centre was handed over to Okun Alfa community courtesy of CNCPFA with a three- year integrated programme on Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV & AIDS.

According to the Baale of the community, Chief Yusuf Elegushi, Okun Alfa community has been without a hospital until last week after the official hand over of the Modern Health Centre.

Elegushi who confirmed that it has not been easy traveling all the way from the village to Lagos General hospital added that the few private hospitals around is  for the rich.

Expressing appreciation to Chevron on the honour done to the community, he said before now, their women has continue to patronise TBAs as Island Maternity is far from them.

He said the old refurbish health centre which was initially run by the local government council to treat simple illnesses for women and children would now be use for  treatment of more serious illness.    

Handing over the facility, Managing Director CNCPFA, Mrs Obafunke Adade-Adeyefa who explained that it was part of their corporate responsibility to the community added that it was part of their strategies to support improvement in the healthcare system of the state and the country at large.

Adade-Adeyefa explained that the programme incorporates the Roll-Back Malaria campaign and donation of drugs and Insecticidce Treated Nets (ITNs).

She said the addition was to mitigate incidence of malaria in the community.

According to her, the campaign which will be carried out by an independent organisation , Women’s Right And Health Project (WRAHP) will provide diagnostics kits an training for health personnel who in turn take message of Roll Back Malaria to communities.

“We believe that these efforts would go a long way in curtailing the menace of malaria in our community. ”

She further counsel the community members to play a role in controlling the scourge of malaria by clearing their bushes around them, ensure drains flowing, increase use of ITNs to contain the rapid spread of malaria.

The Executive Director of WRAHP, Mrs. Bose Ironsi whose organisation is to manage the campaign for three years said they will  focus on three areas including, Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV& AIDS.  “But in this first year, we are going to be working on malaria”

Ironsi who disclosed that no fewer than 800 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) would be distributed to the community, hinted that by next week, 30 peer educators will be train in the community to go back in their subgroup to train others within the community.