Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has pledged the state government’s more collaboration with the oldest hospital in Nigeria – Sacred Heart Hospital Lantoro, Abeokuta – in the areas of resources and technical support to ensure effective and efficient healthcare delivery to people.
Describing the 130-year-old Catholic hospital as the “cradle of Nigeria’s medical journey,” Abiodun said the facility is at the heart of healthcare in Ogun and other parts of Nigeria, emphasising: “This vital and iconic organ of the healthcare system must not die.”
Abiodun spoke yesterday at Sacred Heart Hospital Lantoro, Abeokuta during the kick off of the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the hospital.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, commended the hospital for its partnership with the state-owned health facilities.
He hailed the hospital’s legacy of “selflessness, compassion, and sacrifice,” and assured that his administration would support its rehabilitation and development so that its “healing mission” does not fail.
Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, called state and federal governments to improve on funding healthcare to arrest the brain drain plaguing the sector.
Odetoyinbo appealed to health professionals to be patriotic and compassionate towards their country and to stay back and continue providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
Bishop Odetoyinbo said: “We train them here, they do their practicals in our hospital, but when they graduate, they disappear. Even the Federal Government cannot retain them, and the private sector is not any better. That is the reality. It is affecting everyone, and it is so sad.
“We are appealing to our nurses and doctors to stay back and work because there is a lot of work here. Though the finances may not be adequate, there is still much to do. So, we are begging them to please stay, and we thank those who have remained committed to caring for the people.
“I also appeal to the government, both at the state and federal levels, to ensure increased funding for this critical sector.”
