From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
A philanthropist, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, has launched a free medical intervention that would carter for 10,000 indigent patients per month in 60 tertiary health institutions across the country.
He said the free medical intervention which will focus more on Obstetrics & Gynecology, as well as pediatrics, was designed to complement the federal government’s efforts and investment in the health sector, particularly in reducing cases of maternal and child mortality.
Speaking at the flag-off of the outreach at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Mr. Tinubu said it’s time Nigeria’ ranking on the map of countries with high rate of infant and maternal mortality drops significantly through the collaboration and support of all stakeholders.
Mr. Tinubu who was represented by Ojeje Amin Onimisi said, “this intervention was driven by compassion for children. We are kicking off with mothers and children, but in few months time, the project will be expanded to include provision of useful medical equipment and provision of funds for interdepartmental research that will improve the health outcomes of paediatric patients.
He urged the management of the hospital to ensure effective and efficient use of the intervention for indigent patients who are most vulnerable.
The National Coordinator of the project, Dr. Benson Ayodele Cole, in his remarks, noted that tertiary hospitals were chosen because of the enormous burden of indigent patients they receive yearly, and also because they have a better organised systems and infrastructure to administer the scheme.
He said: “As the National Coordinator of the project, I am delighted to let you know that after this first phase the programme, it will be cascaded down to the Secondary and Primary Care levels in General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres.
“This is the establishment of drug banks by Mr. Seyi Tinubu whose love for children made him furnished these banks with sufficient drugs and delivery consumables to attend to the needs of a minimum of 10,000 indigent patients monthly in each selected tertiary hospital.
“Because of the outstanding work being done by the ABU Teaching Hospital, Seyi Tinubu has
chosen here for the official commissioning of this nationwide project. You may already know the staggering unfortunate statistics of infant mortality in Nigeria which, as at last year, stood at 54.740 deaths per 1, 000 live births, while the Nigeria maternal mortality rate for 2020 was 1,047.
“Indeed our maternal mortality is about the fourth the highest in the world, and according to World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 20 per cent of all global maternal deaths happen in Nigeria”.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed-Zaria, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee ABUTH who represented the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Ahmad Hamadu, at the event, applauded the initiative, stating that it is apt and would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of mother and children, thereby reducing the country’s infant and maternal mortality indices.
Mohammed-Zaria pledged that the hospital management would ensure the intervention judiciously served the indigent patients at the hospital especially the pregnant women and children under five years of age.
“Many patients do come to this hospital without money as some may have exhausted their resources at other hospital before they are finally referred here, but with this initiative, it would go a long way in alleviating their suffering,” he said.
Mr. Tinubu also donated a solar powered industrial borehole at Banzazzau, zaria city, to help reduce water shortage that often result in outbreak of water-borne diseases.
He also launched a scholarship scheme for Resident Doctors who are in their final year of their residency program to support them in registration and preparation for their final fellowship examination.
Dr. Aisha Suleiman, however, became the first beneficiary of the one million Naira scholarship for her outstanding dedication to duty and academic excellence.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Aisha Ololade, National Coordinator for the intervention on education affirmed that portable water goes a long way in maintaining effective Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) which is crucial in preventing outbreak of diseases that could result in infant and maternal death.
She said that potable water and drug banks establishment scheme are twins of a kind, as they go hand-in-hand in ensuring safety of children and mothers as it reduces rise in infant and maternal health issues.