The management of the Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH) Ado Ekiti on Wednesday expressed concern that the bulk of the patients who ought to be patronising the hospital could not do so due to the lack of a functional airport, the deplorable state of roads leading to the state, as well as insecurity.
This was just as the multi-system hospital has just offered discounted surgical procedures for individuals suffering from goitre and hernia. This is in addition to the free antenatal services for pregnant women, as well as free treatment for children under five.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, stated on Wednesday at the unveiling of some health initiatives aimed at supporting both the highly placed and the underprivileged members of society at the AMSH Annex at Igirigiri, Ado Ekiti.
According to Dr Ogundipe, though the quality of healthcare available at AMSH could be compared to what is available overseas, the challenges posed by the absence of a functional airport and the lack of good roads have drastically reduced the level of patronage at the hospital.
“The challenges we face are numerous. There is nobody who embarks on a good project that will not face challenges. These are challenges that are not exclusive to us; they also affect you. On your way here, I know that you passed through bad roads to get here.
“A number of persons who would have loved to be here if there was a functional airport in Ekiti State can’t come. When we have a functional airport, that can be taken care of, but as of today, we are still faced with a challenge that we don’t have one.
“People have to rely on the nearest airport, which is Akure, and then face the security challenge that is on the road. There is none of us who want to go to Akure now that won’t first pray before we embark on the journey. These are the challenges that those who are also coming to patronise us are also facing. If we can eliminate this, we will have resolved the bulk of our challenges.
“Above all, our earnings now cannot even take us home, not to talk of taking us to the hospital and taking us back. But we have patients who come to the hospital or some who would have loved to come to the hospital but don’t have the funds.
“What has happened to health insurance, and has the government been able to provide health insurance for all the populace so that people do not have to take money out of pocket? We hope that we can also rise together and resolve these challenges.
“If you are living abroad and you are leaving there to come home for that purpose, Ekiti is landlocked and all the roads leading to the state are bad, and there is no direct flight to Ekiti. You discover that the problems are enormous, but we are hoping that one day it will be taken care of.”
