Centre Hails Yahaya Bello Over Standard Health Facilities

BY SUNDAY ISUWA, Abuja

Centre for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRG) has applauded governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for his giant strides in the health sector.

The centre, in a statement signed by Dr Ifure Ataifure, ranked the governor as the best in the country in terms of medical infrastructures and health initiatives.

Ataifure said the centre came to this conclusion after an assessment tour of capital projects executed by the Yahaya Bello administration since its assumption of office.

Listing the governor’s achievements, he said with the Bello Cares initiative, citizens now enjoy free medical care in the state – the first of its kind in the country.

Ataifure said pregnant women, children under the age of five, people with disabilities and persons above the age of 65 are currently enjoying free healthcare services.

He said Governor Bello has kept good his words to make the health and well-being of the people his topmost priority.

Ataifure also lauded the Healthcare Plus initiative, describing it as the perfect intervention mechanism for pregnant women and nursing mothers to get on with life with less stress and more smile.

But the centre said Governor Bello’s biggest legacies will be the health Infrastructures scattered across the state.

Ataifure listed the Maimunat and Usman Yahaya Foundation Hospital, a community-based hospital in Ankpa and remodelling and re-equipping of 21 existing Primary Health Care Centres (one per Local Government) with solar-powered boreholes and electrification as part of the governor’s footprints.

He also listed the Psychiatric Center in Lokoja, Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Ultra-modern General Hospital Badoko, in Ajaokuta,  Ultra-Modern General hospital in Gegu Beki, Ultra-modern Clinical Center Isanly, in Yagba,  the Reference Hospital Okene (RHO) among others.

“The Reference Hospital is a model for other states. This is a one-stop facility for all health services. There is no need to run to other countries for emergency medical treatment, everything is available,” Ataifure continued.

Speaking further on the Reference Hospital, he added “it has female and male wards, emergency Wards, surgical wards, medical wards, VIP and VVIP Wards, all of which are 10 each in number. It also has a ward for renal ailments and another one for dental issues. It has two different labs (Hematology Lab and Histopathology Lab).

“The facility is fitted with Ultra Sound Room for scanning, Mammography (Scanning for breast cancer), MRI Machine (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Oxygen Building, Hyperbaric Oxygen Center etc. It also has four consultancy rooms with eight call centres, three elevators, eight pharmacy sections, an antenatal clinic, a neonatal room, a nurse station, a post-natal, a surgery theatre, a collection point, a blood Blank etc.

“There are more than 12 electrical rooms, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with nine-bed spaces, standard theatre rooms and five well-equipped Libraries for doctors. It has a 60-seat capacity Conference Hall, Standard Seminar Hall with Six projectors and electronic gadgets and a befitting Restaurant. Everything is electronically wired with CCTV Cameras”.

Describing the governor as a pragmatic leader, the Centre said Governor Bello’s integrity, transparency and accountability have endeared him to Nigerians, with his zero tolerance for corruption evident in the dismissal of former commissioner of health, Saka Haruna Audu.