The Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe, has inaugurated the Access Bank-sponsored newly-constructed primary health care center in Oworonshoki, Lagos.
The Financial Control and Enterprise Business Services Group of Access Bank has donated the edifice.
The Permanent Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, described the occasion as “a glorious day.”
Dr. Ibrahim, represented by Mrs. Akinpelu, said: “The opening of any health center is always something we are very happy about because the whole aim of health is that it is supposed to be accessible to everyone, and what we mean by that is that we want one health center, if possible, in every single community. We are very far from that in Lagos State.
“What we understand again is that the government cannot do it alone. So we are very happy that Access Bank decided to partner with the local government in trying to make sure that the dream of at least one health center in every ward is possible in every community and that it is becoming a reality today.
But of course, it was only done through the cooperation and willingness of the people of the whole community of Oworonshoki and, of course, the Executive Chairman. Now, with that being said, we are here today to open the health center.
He appealed to people to make use of it and also registered under the Ilera Eko scheme with just a token to access quality health care.”
He said, “We have to use the health center. Please, there’s no show about it. We have health centers in some places in the whole state, but people don’t go there for one reason or another. This place has been built. It has been equipped. So there’s no reason for the people not to come here and come and use it to access health. One of the things that we want people to do and understand is that health is not just about being available. It must also be affordable. And of course, it is affordable through the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme that is pinned on Ilera Eko.”
He urged residents not to be scared. He adds, “They have to put some charges on something. So that it will reduce the cost of paying for medical treatment, we want to encourage everybody to register under the health insurance scheme. Once you pay a little token thereabout, it will cover you for the whole year.”
Explaining further, he said, “So anytime you come to your health center, what will happen is that you won’t have to pay, you will get your card, the doctor will see you, you will do your test, and everything will go very smoothly. At the end of the day, the more people that come to you, the health center, the more money it will have to maintain this place.”
He appealed to residents to make use of the health center. “Please come and use the health center because everything is going to be available here. You are going to have doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, and everybody else. They are going to be here to provide these services for you—good, quality, affordable services. We can assure you of that because of the staff that is going to work here. They are from the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board. And we are very professional people. We deserve and deliver on our promise of good, qualitative health service.”
He appealed to the Kosofe Local Government Chairman to support them in terms of staff, “to add to the number of staff and the cadre staff that will be posted here to ensure that all the services we want to be delivered are delivered adequately.”
At the commissioning of the project, Mr. Taiwo Fowowe, the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the bank, commended the council chairman for the fruitful partnership and Oloworo of Oworonshoki for providing leadership and access to bank delegation.
He said, “For Access Bank, we take community service as more than just what we do. It’s part of our lives. We do it every year in various communities. At Access Bank, we feel that our business is not just doing business; we also look at the community in which we operate to make sure that we also have the opportunity to give back to society.
“The UN Sustainable development Goals health care is one of the key pillars. This is one of the things we do to give back to society,” he said.
He thanked the people of Oworonshoki for the development, saying, “Without your support, this project wouldn’t have been possible.
While echoing the PM secretary, he said residents should make use of the fully equipped facility. I will like to employ us as much as possible and make ourselves available; let’s come in and use the service,” he said, adding that a token might be paid.
However, don’t let that deter you from using the facility if you come in with children, especially women, to get the most out of it.
Reacting, Kosofe Local Government Chairman, Honourable Moyosore Ogunlewedescribed the project as a step towards the upgrade of the local government healthcare system.
He gave the background of the role the Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom and Community Development Associations played in making the health center a reality.
He expressed the Council’s and the local government’s deep appreciation for Access Bank PLC.for the partnership.
While speaking to the Kosofe Post Moyo Ogunlewe Kosofe Chairman, he said the project was the CDA, and Oloworo made it possible by providing the land to build a health center.
He said to hold a further meeting with the Medical Officer of Health and permanent secretary of the primary health board in Lagos to see how they can drive the health center so that it can be functioning properly for the people of the local government.
He thanked financial institution for the gesture. “I just want to thank Access Bank for this wonderful opportunity given to the people of Oworonshoki; we got the land and they built it, and two of us collaborated to give back to the society.”
He urged residents to take ownership of it by maintaining it. He adds, “It’s your property, not mine; I am just overseeing it. Whatever you do now, you are definitely going to need it later. I will advise them to make sure that this place is conducive for the people of the community.”
The highlight of the program was when the All Progressives Congress candidate for Kosofe Federal Constituency, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara, was given an honor to the commission facility, and she expressed Kosofe’s profound gratitude to the financial institutions.
