An organisation envisioned by Mr. Seyi Tinubu, a son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu Maternal and Child Health Intervention, is targeting alleviating the financial hardship of medication and materials for delivery for 10,000 indigent patients across 60 tertiary health institutions in the country.
In its first phase, which will include the University College Hospital [UCH] and LUTH, Lagos, the Maternal and Child Health Intervention, through its drug bank, intends to support 10,000 indigent patients every month with free drugs and materials delivered to these hospitals.
Mr Seyi Tinubu, who spoke at the official launch of the Maternal and Child Health Intervention’s drug bank for indigent patients in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics Pharmacy Units at the UCH, Ibadan, described the drug bank as a symbol of hope and compassion for those who need it most.
Represented by Pharmacist Ojeje Onimisi, Mr Tinubu declared that countless individuals struggle to access life-saving medications.
According to him, “The burden of illness is already overwhelming; the added weight of financial hardship can be crushing.
“This drug bank represents more than just a collection of medicines; it means more than just a collection of medicines. It represents a commitment to dignity, to equality, and to the fundamental human right to healthcare.
“This drug bank is a testament to the power of community, partnership, and collective action. And I urge everyone to continue to support this initiative so that we can bridge the gap. Access to healthcare is not a privilege but a right. Let us strive to create a world where no one suffers due to a lack of resources.”
The National Coordinator of the Seyi Tinubu’s Maternal and Child Healthcare Intervention Scheme, Dr Ayodele Benson, noting Nigeria’s unfortunately high infant and maternal mortality rates, said the goal of Mr Seyi Tinubu’s Maternal and Child Health Intervention Scheme is to ensure that Nigeria attains and possibly surpasses the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on maternal and infant rates.
“To this end, Mr. Seyi Tinubu has taken the challenge headlong to support indigent patients who may not be able to afford hospital bills with this revolving scheme for free drugs and free materials for safe delivery.
“In this scheme, 10,000 indigent patients shall benefit from free drugs and delivery supplies per month per institution, and this will be established in a total of 60 tertiary hospitals in the north and south of Nigeria in the first phase.
“Tertiary hospitals were chosen because of the enormous burden of indigent patients they receive yearly and also because they currently have better-organised systems and infrastructure to administer the scheme. We are looking at doing the same things in general hospitals and primary health care centres across Nigeria.”
Dr Benson declared that besides the drug bank interventions, the donation of point-of-care equipment, especially point-of-care ultrasound equipment, to the labour wards and antenatal clinics in the beneficiary institutions makes some immediate clinical decisions to support the care of pregnant women in labour who previously were not booked.
According to him, other things to implement in the subsequent phases of the programme include newborn screening for sickle cell disease and multidisciplinary research on issues that impact the reduction of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
The Chief Medical Director [CMD] of the hospital, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, who was represented by the hospital’s Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council [CMAC], Professor Abiodun Adeoye, lauded the initiative, saying the hospital would run the programme effectively and efficiently.
Professor Otegbayo declared: “We are commending this initiative because we know people that are paying out of pocket and people that cannot afford medications are increasing every day. We have to waive a lot of bills. With this initiative, that means we have access to emergency drugs. And that is why we are embracing it all heartedly, and we appreciate it.”
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