From Right to left: Hon.(Cllr) Harold Ogunfemi- Continental Project Coordinaor-NIDOE; Pastor Peters Omoragbon Omoragbon-Executive President – Nurses Across the Borders International; Hajia Aminat El Imam- Hon. Commissioner For Health Kwara State and Hajia Afusat Adenike Ibrahim- Permanent Secretary.
Success Damian
History was made on Friday, July 19, 2024 in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria, when the Egbejila Primary Health Centre which was renovated by the joint efforts of Nurses Across the Borders International and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) was commissioned by the Hon. Commissioner of Health in the state Hajia Aminat El Imam supported by the Permanent Secretary Hajia Afusat Adenike Ibrahim and the State Director of Nursing Services in the state Hajia Ahman Aminat.
The event witnessed the Free Medical Outreach provided by members of Nurses Across the Borders in Nigeria, where over 72 women were screened for High Blood Pressure and Diabetes and given essential medications to take home. The entire Mogajis of the 54 communities of the Budo Nuhu were represented adequately.
Speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Health in Kwara State, Hajia Aminat El Imam, commended the duet of Nurses Across the Borders International headed by Pastor Peters Omoragbon and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) led by Dr Bashir Obasekola represented by the Continental Project Coordinator Councillor Harold Ogunfemi for the gigantic step taken in renovating the dilapidated Egbejila Primary Health Centre. “It is with joy, hope and satisfaction and deep appreciation that we are here today as a ministry to join the people of Egbejila to officially Commission the Egbejila Primary Health Centre renovation.”
She stated that the issue of Health is so dear to the heart of the Governor of the state. “This Health Centre stands as a testament of the spirit of humanity, cooperation and partnership; the universal desire for growth and improvement which is in tandem with the ministry of health and the entire Kwara State government headed by His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“The matter of infrastructural development, especially as it relates to healthcare in Kwara State is the one that is paramount and dear to his Excellency the Governor. What do I mean? There has been a statewide drive to renovate facilities, primary and secondary, and we have converted one of our flagship facilities into the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) to produce the next generation of healthcare workers for Kwara State and beyond. This upgrade that we have done has created an environment where our healthcare professionals can operate efficiently.”
The commissioner stated that the state is doing everything possible to ensure that nobody in Kwara State is disenfranchised on issue of health no matter the social or economic standing of the citizens, adding that there has been a lot of work being done to bring the less privileged closer to facilities either by opening up roads, or creating health posts and renovating primary health centres. “We have at least one standard primary health centre in all the 193 wards in Kwara State, while others that serve particularly huge communities or serve hard to reach areas are also prioritised in order to get access to everyone in Kwara State irrespective or regardless of their social or economic standing.”
She made it clear that Kwara is not among the richest states in Nigeria but it is just the evidence of the prioritisation of health. “Kwara State is not one of the richest states in Nigeria. We are only lucky, all the progress we see in the Health sector in Kwara State is actually beyond our financial standing, it is just the evidence of the prioritisation of health. States that have the same income do not have the same facilities that Kwara State has in Health care delivery, as health is a priority to the governor.”
While commending Pastor Omoragbon and his team; the commissioner made it clear that there is nowhere in the world where healthcare is left to the government alone. “Despite his Excellency’s intensive and consistent improvements and the attempts to elevate the health care system, health care is not something the government can do alone, there is need for effective collaborations as this which are crucial facts we have to admit. In Europe, we have philanthropists who contribute; public, private partnerships, we have body corporates also contributing, and so on.
“We appreciate this structure, no doubt about that, but most importantly, if all you have given us is one sachet or one drip of water we would still have come to say thank you, because it is far more than where we were before. And I want to use you and other well-meaning Nigerians to say nothing is too small to use to support the people, nothing is too small to support the government that is trying her best in the face of scarce resources and competitive needs to deliver quality healthcare to everyone in the state.”
Pastor Omoragbon in his interaction with the media disclosed that even though the physical building has been completed, there is need to equip it to function efficiently. ”We need to equip the health centre, they should have a well-equipped labour room, well stocked pharmacy, well equipped dressing room, emergency room, they should have admission beds. Primary Health Centre should be the first point of call; it is only when it is beyond them that they can refer to the general hospital. So they should be able to manage some minor conditions like malaria and all that. The people that are pregnant, they can deliver them, unless the delivery is complicated that they can now refer. They also need an ambulance, they need continuous power supply, if possible a generator and there should be fuel every day. There is also a need for internet connectivity, there is a need to keep records, do research, and look around for disease and outbreak of diseases, we want to make it a model Primary health centre.”
Omoragbon used the opportunity to appreciate his organization Nurses Across The Borders and NIDOE. “May I use this opportunity to appreciate every member of both Nurses Across the Borders International and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe for the support both by physical presence, finance, prayers and encouragement.”
Those present at the event include the permanent secretary, Hajia Hassan Adenike Ibrahim, the DPO, Justina Yakubu, the state director of nursing, among other important dignitaries.
