PHC Workers Nailed For Selling Free Drugs In Lagos


..As Govt Begins Rehabilitation Of General Hospitals


By CHIOMA UMEHA
Lagos

The Lagos State Government having read riot act against some health workers in the State’s Primary Health Centres, PHCs, who short-change patients by selling drugs, facilities and other services which are supposed to be provided free to the public.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who said this at the weekend at the flag-off of the 2016 Eko Free Health Mission and the Commissioning of the Nurudeen Olowopopo Health Centre, in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) frowned at the untoward activities of the workers involved, saying such illegality would no longer be condoned.
Idris further disclosed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had ordered the renovation of all the General Hospitals and PHCs across the state following the deplorable states of some of the hospitals.
Speaking at the event organised by Eko Club International (ECI) and AMBSAM Memorial Foundation in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, the Lagos Health Ministry boss
confirmed that some of the health workers had been sanctioned, while investigations were ongoing on others.
According to the Commissioner, the exercise would involve serious monitoring on the part of government, to ensure that the extortionists are fished out and dealt with accordingly.
Idris, who also commissioned the Nurudeen Olowopopo Health Centre donated by ECI (comprised of Lagosians in diaspora), noted that there were lots of services and facilities provided by the government free of charge to the people, but were being secretly and unlawfully commercialised by unscrupulous workers.
“Reports have come to us that a lot of our workers in Primary Health Centres are selling commodities that are provided by the government free of charge. That is wrong! I want to sound a note of warning for those of our staff who are perpetrating these activities to desist from them. We heard this last week and we have investigated it. We have got those people and they have been sanctioned. Investigation will continue and we are going to step up our monitoring activities because the government is spending so much to provide health care for our people.
“I think it is wrong for members of staff to start selling what is meant for the people. Some services are provided free of charge, but they don’t offer them free of charge,” he lamented.
Idris also said Governor Ambode had ordered the renovation of General Hospitals and PHCs in the State, saying that the renovation of the hospital would take place in batches. “All general hospitals in Lagos are to be rehabilitated. We intend to do a total of 20 in all before the end of the year. This would take place in batches as work had commenced on five of the facilities already and another batch would be rolled out soon. We have the approval of the governor on this matter.”
He also announced that the government would soon come up with plans to sensitise the public on the Health Insurance Scheme which would be implemented soon. He admonished Lagosians to avoid habits such as smoking, drinking and the use of hard drugs, which could jeopardise their health.
The Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka? while praising the ECI for donating the facility, said the people would benefit from the laudable gesture. The Sole Administrator of Isolo LCDA, Hon. Oshikoya Ambibola, said the occasion marked a turnaround in the health fortunes of the people of her community.
Similarly, government at all levels have been urged former president of ECI, Idowu Popoola, to emulate the club by investing in the projects that would impact lives.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insurgency: Nigerian Army Clears 25 More Children Of Links With Armed Groups, Says UNICEF

Image
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Thursday that 25 more children had been freed from Nigerian Army administrative custody having been cleared of suspected links with armed groups. With this number, a total of 44 children had been released this year, bringing the number to 1,627 children since 2016, that is four years now, the UN agency for children has said. UNICEF which announced this in a press statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, specifically said, “Twenty-three boys and two girls were released today from Nigerian Army administrative custody after being cleared of suspected ties with armed groups. This brings the number of children released this year to 44,” it added. It bemoaned the discrimination, deprivation and cruelty which the children have suffered. “These are children taken away from their families and communities, deprived of their childhood, education, health-care, and of the chance to grow up in a safe and enabling envir
Read more

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

PSN President Commissions ACPN National Secretariat

Image
Chioma Umeha History was made among the community pharmacists recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State. The event was graced by many notable personalities in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting edifice. Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different pharmaceutical bodies. Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy for him to see this development come to light. He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who can carry out directives.” He described the secretariat as “A home for all pharmacists across board.”
Read more