By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria – The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako on Tuesday, 11th February, 2025 on behalf of the Federal Government signed the memorandum of Understanding with the Edo State Government for the establishment of National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC) in Benin to serve the South South region of the country.
According to the Minister at the signing ceremony, Obstetric fistula, a preventable medical scourge with dire consequences for the victim, the family, the society, and the nation is being tackled headlong through the Free Fistula Management Programme (FFMP) launched in June 2024
He thanked the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebolo, whom he said has been most helpful in providing and renovating a temporary take-off point of the project in addition to 22 hectares of land for the permanent site.
“Regrettably, Nigeria contributes the largest number to the global burden of the challenge, with an estimated 150,000 existing cases and 12,000 new cases occurring annually.
“The FMOH&SW, in addition to the FFMP, will continue its efforts to prevent Nigerian women from developing obstetric fistula through the promotion of Safe Motherhood Initiatives which involves positive pregnancy, delivery and postpartum experiences”, the Minister stated.
Dr Salako called on the newly recruited staff of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, to remain in the hospital where they have been employed with the view of contributing their quota to the growth of the country rather than leaving the country.
The Minister, who made the appeal while on inspection of the hospital facilities in Benin said that the country belongs to them and it is their duty to join hands to make it work rather than migrating to other countries.
He said, “the President is committed to the improvement of the living standard of the average Nigerian. He is committed to ensure that Nigeria transform to a place that we all can live comfortably and be proud of.
“So, for those of us who are newly employed, please let us remain committed to our country. Let us display patriotism to the country. Let’s not because of economic crises alone abandon our country, and Japa, as they say.
“I want to come back and see that all the people that are newly employed remain in the service of this hospital serving our country because nobody is going to come to build this country for us.
“If we don’t do it ourselves, when we go, we still come back and meet it the way we have left it. So I want to encourage all of you to remain committed, to remain patriotic and serve Nigeria intelligently.
“The reform that Mr. President is doing, is a reform for the betterment of our country. I can assure you that we are turning the corner and things are getting better. Very soon, things will get much, much and much better”.
The Medical Director (CMD) of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, in his remarks thanked President Tinubu’s efforts at assuring that health care remains a priority of his administration.
He said, indeed, no nation can develop without investing hugely in the health and education of its people.
According to him, since this infrastructure came on board, they have done everything to ensure that the healthcare needs of Nigerians take the centre stage in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President Tinubu’s administration.
He told the Minister that they have only few things left to be put in place which are the electrical fittings and the connection to the national grid as well as a few structural things to be done and then, the final painting.
“You will agree with me that all of these are very minor. So, it is our plea, to our minister, that with your full support, we are highly and very hopeful that very soon, those few structural things that needed to be done are completed in this hospital so that full clinical services will commence”, he said.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Michael Ogbonmwan, the Onogie of Ogheghe-Osemwende, while commending the federal government for siting the hospital in his community, offered his land as parking lot for the hospital.
He said, “Also, I want to remind the management that the open space opposite the hospital was for my personal use. It was a means for livelihood to me. Now that the hospital needs it for packing space and also to beautify the edifice, it is my prayer that the federal government and the hospital management put me on monthly stipend to enable me meet some of my personal needs.
“I want to equally draw your attention to the roads links to the National Orthopedic Hospital to be fixed in order for easy accessibility.
“Finally, I want to announced it to all and sundry and to the hospital in particular that the next compound has been donated to the National Orthopedic Hospital as permanent site.
“I have discussed with my elders and we have decided to work with the local government chairman to relocate the mini-market to another site where the community originally proposed for the market”.
