Group petitions Ogun state government over health commissioner’s alleged removal of hospital equipment
A Group known as Ado-Odo/Ota citizens’ engagement platform have petitioned the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, accusing Commissioner of Health, Dr Tommy Coker of unlawfully removing Anastatic and Dialysis Machines from General Hospital, Ota
Penpushing reports that, the petitioners told the Governor that, the machines among other facilities were donated to the hospital by Nigeria Portland Cement (Larfage) and Uniliver Nigeria Plc, as parts of their social responsibilities
The petition explained that, to the amazement of the donors, residents and patients, as well as staff of the hospital, Coker suddenly directed that one set of Anastatic machine and Dialysis machine be removed and taken to Abeokuta from the Ota General Hospital, where they were donated to and meant to be used for the treatment of the vastly populated people and residents of the Ota community.
Penpushing further reports that, the petitioners pointed out that and by extension citizens and residents in Ado-Odo Local Government Area and its environs where they were originally meant and appropriated for will suffer consequence of the commissioner’s illegal act.
‘We formally write to notify the Executive Governor of Ogun State that in the corporate social responsibilities of good and well-meaning and very responsible companies of this great country, Nigeria Portland Cement (Lafarge)and Uniliver Nigeria Plc. built an 80 bed-space well-equipped Isolation Centre at the Ota General Hospital situated at Ota’.
‘Further to the above, the companies also ensured that the well-built and furnished building was supplied with state of the art medical equipment including but not limited to a pair of Anastatic Machine; Dialysis Machine, as well as an Ambulance which was all donated to the Ota General Hospital and same, meant for the use of the treatment of Covid-19 Isolation Centre for people of Ota and its environment in view of the global Covid-19 pandemic which is still a major concern globally’.
‘Whereas the above state of the art medical facility was built and equipped by the above named private companies and donated for the use of the Ota General Hospital was commissioned by this same administration, with the Deputy Governor of this state representing the Governor at the commissioning on the 24th day of November 2021’.
‘Regrettably, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker directed that one set of Anastatic Machine and Dialysis Machine be removed and taken to Abeokuta from the Ota General Hospital, where they were donated to and meant to be used for the treatment of the vastly populated people and residents of the Ota community; and by extension citizens and residents in Ado-Odo Local Government Area and its environs where they were originally meant and appropriated for, with only one of the equipment above mentioned said to cost over N500, 000, 000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) only’.
‘It is on record that aside from the Ota General Hospital Covid-19 facility center, which was even built and equipped by private and corporate individuals, Abeokuta and other major towns in this state also have their own Covid-19 isolation centers built and equipped by the state government’.
‘Whereas those centers and equipment in those facilities are still in place in those hospital facilities within the State, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, in her own wrong judgments and estimation, believes that the good people of Ado-Odo Ota Local Government and its environs do not deserve to use state of the art medical equipment consequent upon which she directed that the equipment bought and donated for the use of the Ota General Hospital be removed and relocated to her place of choice, thereby denying the good people in this town and LGA the right to life and medical treatment’.
‘If this is not corruption, misappropriation, and outright hatred for the good people of this Ota community and by extension the good people of this Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area Town, then we wonder what better adjective her actions towards us can be best described’.
‘We, therefore, wish to remind the Governor that if this action taken by the Honourable Commissioner is not reversed immediately this would not only send a wrong message to these companies who gave the medical equipment to Ota General Hospital same would also prevent other well-intentioned corporate bodies and individuals from carrying out their well-intended corporate social responsibilities in Ota and in other areas of the state’.
‘We, therefore, demand as follows: That Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun should direct that the actions of the Honorable Commissioner for Health above stated be reversed and the Dialysis machine and Anastatic machine now lying in Ijaye State Hospital in Abeokuta taken away from the Ota General Hospital be returned within the next seven days.
*That the Honorable Commissioner for health, Dr. Tomi Coker be relieved of her appointment as she no longer supports the grassroots health initiative of our amiable Governor. TheOgun State Government should as a matter of urgency increase the manpower of Doctors and Nurses in Ota General Hospital to reflect the capacity of the Hospital.
‘We are lawful people and citizens of this great country, and we would go the extra mile to ensure that our rights are not only protected but also never trampled with by anybody, no matter how highly placed such individual might be, hence this petition.
Penpushing also reports that, signatories of the petition include: Mr Issac Ogbah, Mrs Olajumoke Odeyemi, Alhaji Waheed Adeyinka, Pastor Jide Jaiyesimi and Mr Pius Abraham
The Commissioner Health did not pick calls nor responded to text messages both on her telephone line and whatAssp contact on request for her reaction as at time of filing this report, hours after
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