The Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital (UCH), Mr. Toye Akinrinlola has disclosed that non functional statuses of the primary and secondary health care system in Oyo State is the fundamental problem that is almost killing Nigeria’s number one tertiary health institution.
Akinrinlola gave the disclosure while featuring on Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio, a popular radio magazine programme aired on Space 90.1FM, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
While giving clarification on the notion that UCH is a ‘place of death’, the PRO stated that many of the relatives of patients are the ones to be blamed for this. He submitted that “most of the times, relatives would have taken their patient to quacks and other religious houses and when things the patient’s situation becomes more serious, they then decide to come visiting UCH”.
Akinrinlola, whose interview was conducted live via the telephone, explained further that majority of the people believe that UCH is a miracle ground, “yet, we cannot reject any patient that is coming to the hospital but one thing that is important is that if the person comes early enough we will have something to do about it”.
He said that many people do not know what is going on within, noting that it is only when efforts are not enough that they will be saying different things.
The PRO said that the primary and secondary health systems have been almost neglected by successive administrations, and not functioning again.
This, according to him has put undue pressure on UCH.
“Negligence of the past in the health sector is what we are witnessing today. Many of the facilities in the hospital were those commissioned in 1957,” Akinrinlola said.
The PRO opined that the management has been talking to the present administration in the state over the present situation in the hospital. He said that Governor Seyi Makinde has promised to lend his government’s support.
“We talked with the governor and he is fair enough to listen to our complaints. For example, he came to UCH to check on one of his people, I met and told him about the Special Medical Unit in South-East 4 of the hospital.
“No-one has worked on the project after Late Former Governor, Bola Ige, he then confirmed that the Commissioner for Health would come and do everything possible and they’ve been taking great steps towards achieving that goal, we are praying for him not to be derailed. We believe he is going to do so much for the health sector.”
On the issue of COVID-19, the PRO said that the management had taken some steps and that warranted the letters requesting for support for UCH sent out to affluent Nigerians to ensure adequate preparation to fight the deadly disease are put in place. UCH, according to him, needs the support of well meaning Nigerians.
“We know that the facilities on ground cannot cope with our projection, especially if this novel coronavirus should get out of hand. So, we had to call out to people to assist us and by God’s special grace, quite a number of Nigerians have been responding and we’re encouraged by what we have received and the promises and assurances we got.”
He used the opportunity to inform the general public that there is no particular drug yet to cure coronavirus. He maintained that what everybody must do now is to ensure prevention by staying at home.
Akinrinlola noted that UCH Task Force in collaboration with the state government is moving round to monitor the situation. He said that the hospital is not attending to any case as the hospital is on lockdown.
He emphasized that only extremely emergency cases are what the hospital is presently attending to for now.
Akinrinlola urged the people that feeling and seeing the symptoms of the COVID-19 to contact the Oyo State chapter of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for necessary information and guidelines to follow.
The PRO used the opportunity to congratulate the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde on his speedy recovery after contracting Coronavirus.
He revealed that the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Abiodun Otegbayo and the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Olubunmi Olapade-Olaopa and a few others, who also contracted the virus have been tentatively confirmed to be coronavirus-negative.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali and Olaitan Ige
