Ogun govt commences free surgery for vulnerable residents

The free surgery intervention programme for indigent people, initiated by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has been flagged off with surgical operations carried out on patients at state hospitals in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro.

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The programme, which began with the registration of beneficiaries, would involve major and minor surgical operations as part of the governor’s medical palliative to the people.

The state government began the process of offering free surgery to indigent residents in the state as part of plans to help cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economy

Speaking after witnessing the first surgery performed on a patient under the free surgery programme at the state hospital in Ilaro, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, explained that the programme, which is the brainchild of the governor was meant to bring relief to people with medical challenges in need of surgical interventions.

Ogungbe further explained that the services rendered under the programme, include, preoperative, operative, and post-operative.

He said, “I have gone round and I have seen the people who have been operated on. What the governor has done is unprecedented in the history of this state.

“The free surgery programme covers all operations including orthopaedics, we are doing gynaecological operations, obstetrics, and others.”

The special adviser applauded the state government for making the medical equipment and other surgical resources available.

He also noted that medical personnel have been fully mobilised to make the programme a success.

The coordinator in charge of the programme in Yewa Zone, Dr Bashirudeen Oni, said surgical operations would be carried out on patients with breast lumps, hernia, fibroid, goitres, soft tissue sarcoma, lipoma, prostrate enlargement, adrenalectomy, cataract, amongst others.

He said the hospital hopes to operate on about eight patients for a start and gradually scale it up as the programme progresses.

In his contribution, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Yusuf Abdulwahab, commended the people for turning out in large numbers to benefit from the programme.

He revealed that those already cleared were undergoing surgical operations.

At the State Hospital in Ijebu Ode, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tayo Lawal noted that everyone registered to participate in the free surgery would be issued an Ogun State Health Insurance Agency card fully paid for by Governor Abiodun.

“The OGSHIA programme has been on for some time now. What it simply means is that for a card of N1,000 per month or N12,000 per year, you are entitled to about 200 ailments captured under the insurance scheme.

“Once you are above 18, you can pay. But, for a family of six, we capture them under that scheme of N12,000 per year. That is different from what we are doing now. We are just using this to bring more people into the insurance scheme because everyone registered here will be given a card which will entitle them to visit the hospital for the next year. It’s been paid for by Governor Dapo Abiodun,” he said.

PUNCH/Wumi