By Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
As part of its effort to improve well-being and access to quality health care services of Nigerians, the Nigerian Army has remodelled and renovated Olugbo Primary Health Care Center and Staff Quarters in Olugbo, Odeda local government area of Ogun state.
Before now, Cityvoiceng gathered that pregnant women and children travelled over 40km to receive medical attention at the nearest government health facilities.
The Army also built new solar-powered borehole and a water regulation system for the buildings as well as the installation of a solar inverter system to power the healthcare centre.
Speaking at the commissioning, Acting Chief of Army Staff ( COAS), Olufemi Oluyede, reaffirmed the Nigeria Army’s commitment to collaborate with communities across the six geo-political zones of the country in order to promote infrastructural development and support their area of needs.
The project, under the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation, was executed by the Commander Corps of Supply and Transportation, Major Gen. Adekunle Adeyinka.
He explained that the scheme introduced to provide support to communities of serving senior officers is a way of giving back to the society.
Oluyede, who was represented by the Corps Commander of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Major Gen. Baba Umaru Yahaya, emphasized that the project’s goal is to support government efforts and those of other well-meaning individuals and not to compete or subdue its responsibilities.
According to him, “It is worth stating that this scheme was introduced to provide support to communities of serving Nigerian Army senior officers across the nation who, through dedication, duty, duty and service to the nation, have risen to the rank of Major General.
“I must say that the projects executed by the Nigeria Army are not intended to compete with or subdue the responsibilities of government but to complement their efforts and that of other well-meaning organisations and individuals towards enhancing the quality of life of the people”.
Major Gen. Adeyinka, in his opening remarks, disclosed that the restored facility would effectively provide primary health care service to over 62 communities and more than 8,000 persons.
Adeyinka noted that the selection was based on necessity and its expected impacts, urging the people of the Olugbo community to make the most out of it by ensuring it’s adequately protected and maintained.
He said, ” This project also involves the construction of a new solar-powered borehole and a water regulation system to the buildings as well as the installation of a solar inverter system to power the healthcare centre.
” All this was done to ensure that this facility restored would effectively provide primary health care to over 62 communities and more than 8,000 persons that will depend on it.”
He appealed to the Ogun state Ministry of Health to increase the centre’s workforce by adding a doctor, two midwives, two pharmacists, two laboratory technicians, and a health attendant to optimize the delivery of healthcare service to the community.
Speaking at the occasion, Speaker of the Ogun State House Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, while praising Major Gen. Adeyinka for not denying his local government but giving back to the community, lamented that many people shy away and deny being a member of the local government.
In a similar vein, the Chairman of the local government, Folashade Adeyemo, stressed that access to quality health is not a necessity but a right, adding that the facility is a significant step towards providing affordable healthcare to all.
Adeyemo, while thanking Adeyinka for his generosity and commitment, urged all well-meaning individuals to contribute and support the state government, saying “the government can not provide facilities to all”.
Friends and associates of Adeyinka also donated to the enrolment of 500 persons to the Ogun State Health Insurance scheme for one year.
