The Federal Government has promised to continue to support the Iru kingdom in Lagos State to enhance infrastructure development.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, made the promise in Lagos on Tuesday at the inauguration and handover ceremony of a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Iru land.
The Centre was built by the SDGs in commemoration of the first anniversary of the coronation of Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iru land.
The health Centre has 16 bed spaces and consists of eight male and eight female wards, a consulting room and a family planning room, among others. The facility also has a nutrition room for children, a labour ward, an antenatal room, a laboratory and a pharmacy.
Orelope-Adefulire noted that SDGs 3 had to do with good health and wellbeing. According to her, if residents of Iru land are healthy, they will be wealthy.
She said the Office of the SDGs would continue to support the Lagos State Government to do more in the area of development of health infrastructure.
“I promise you that we will continue to partner with Iru Kingdom on infrastructure development to make it a model local government in Nigeria.
“We have done our bit by providing this facility, the onus is on you now to come and patronise this place.
“Don’t sit at home whenever you are ill, come to the health centre so that doctors can diagnose and give you drugs.
“I am very happy for a day like this where we all gather for inauguration and handover of this health centre for the people of Iru Kingdom, in commemoration of the one year anniversary of ‘Kabiyesi’ on the throne.
“The primary health centre will service the people of this community as the first point of call for health care service delivery,” the presidential aide said.
She noted that the traditional ruler of the community approached her about six months ago and requested for a PHC.
”Part of what we do is intervention programmes – providing infrastructure that is lacking, to the people, especially at the grassroots.
“We are happy to deliver this to the community on behalf of the ‘Kabiyesi’ and the Lagos State Government,” she said.
Orelope-Adefulire urged the community members to take maximum advantage of the project and stop patronising quacks as well as avoid self-medication.
She also advised nursing mothers and pregnant women to desist from patronising quack nurses and embrace PHCs in their domains to avert needless death.
“Come for post-natal, anti-natal and other health needs. We need you to utilise this place effectively.
“Please don’t patronise people who sell drugs in communities.
“Don’t patronise local nurses and uncertified health workers, patronise professionals only.” she advised.
In his remarks, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State commended the traditional ruler of the community for exemplary leadership in the last one year.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Solape Hammond, his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, said that the past one year had been beneficial to the people of Iru land.
According to the governor, this is attested to by the various projects and interventions initiated and influenced by the royal father.
“These include streetlights installed within Oniru Estate as well as the Oniru Estate Primary Health Centre, which is being handed over today.
“Your Royal Majesty has demonstrated exemplary leadership and I must say that Iru land and the good people of Lagos are proud of you.
“The conception and completion of this PHC is therefore no surprise, it shows the zeal, passion and dedication the Oniru has toward promoting good health and wellbeing of his people.
“Very importantly, it underscores the Oniru’s support for the Health and Environment pillar of our administration’s THEMEs Agenda with the objective of ensuring that every resident has access to good healthcare services,” he said.
The governor said that the centre would, therefore, complement the administration’s vision in the healthcare sector by ensuring that the basic health care needs of people of the area would be adequately catered for.
“As a government that is committed to the wellbeing and welfare of the people, we are currently investing resources toward delivering world-class services to Lagosians at our various health institutions across the state.
“As you are aware, work is currently ongoing on the biggest pediatrics hospital project in Nigeria, here in Lagos,” he said.
In his remarks, the royal father said that his kingdom carried out a survey which revealed that there was an urgent need for a healthcare centre to cater for the needs of the residents.
Wife of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Toyin, congratulated Lawal for the feat. She said her organisation, Wellbeing Health Foundation Africa, and the Oniru medical team would conduct free medical mission for residents of the community.
Saraki said five doctors and 10 nurses would carry out the health mission to involve dental care, eye check-up, and screenings for malaria, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and HIV.
