Ogun community seeks health workers for emergency health centre

The Gateway Sparklight Residents’ Association, Magboro, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has called on the Ogun State Government to provide medical personnel for its newly built Emergency Medical Centre.

The medical centre was constructed by the GSRA and fully equipped by the Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation.

GAF supplied the centre with essential medical instruments, furniture, and equipment, including a glucometer, blood pressure apparatus, suction machine, oxygen concentrator, nebuliser, and observation beds, among others.

Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of the health centre, Chairman of GSRA, Mr Phillips Olofinsawe, stated that GAF had approached the association’s executives, requesting a building that could be equipped to serve as a critical emergency medical centre.

“This building was entirely funded by the residents’ association, with no contribution from the government or any other entity. We built it using the association’s funds, while GAF provided the modern medical equipment. The founder of the foundation sent these medical supplies to us over two years ago. Now, we need medical personnel, doctors and nurses, to man the facility”, Olofinsawe said.

Also speaking, the founder of GAF, Dr Adesola Omodara, whose speech was read by GAF’s Secretary, Mrs Bukola Omololu, said, “This healthcare facility will serve as a beacon of hope. It is designed not only to treat minor illnesses but also to provide critical emergency care—stabilising severely ill individuals and ensuring their transfer to a larger medical centre is both safer and more effective.

“The Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation was born out of a heartbreaking event in September 2019. My beloved sister, Gbemi Akinfenwa, a resident of Gateway Sparklight Estate, suffered a medical emergency and, sadly, lost her life. If a medical facility had existed within the estate at the time, perhaps the outcome would have been different. That painful loss ignited a strong resolve in me, I could not stand by and allow another family to experience such devastation. This conviction led to the establishment of the Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation in 2020.

“As many of us know, the geographical location of this estate poses a serious challenge in accessing timely and quality medical care. In emergencies, every second counts, and the absence of a nearby medical facility has often placed residents at a disadvantage. Today, that changes”, Omodara stated.

Omodara further explained that the loss of their sister, Gbemi, led to the foundation’s establishment and its mission to equip government medical centres in the Magboro area, including donating medical supplies to the newly built centre.
She therefore called on the government to deploy medical personnel to the centre.

“Motivated by this experience, we began providing medical equipment to various health centres and clinics, donating supplies to improve healthcare access. This effort eventually led to the establishment of the Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation. We have already written to the Local Government Chairman, requesting the deployment of medical staff to the centre.”

Another resident, Mrs Morenike Fasanya, emphasised the importance of the facility in serving both the local community and the wider population.

“This facility will serve not just the immediate community but also a broader population. Being located along the expressway, we handle numerous emergencies, and people can easily access our services. We’ve reached out to the local government, and they’ve responded positively. They are considering providing us with a doctor and a nurse who will be stationed here to assess and manage the facility.

“Additionally, we plan to conduct regular training sessions to educate people. It’s one thing to have medical equipment available, but another to ensure functionality. We want to make sure that everything is not only in place but also fully operational. However, we are seeking external support, specifically two permanent staff members from the local government, to help sustain and run this initiative effectively.”