House of Reps Hold Public Hearing on Establishment of Federal Medical Centre in Igboho

The Federal House of Representatives has conducted a public hearing on a bill calling for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Igboho, Oyo State with concerned stakeholders describing the bill and its intent as a worthy venture for the development of healthcare in the state.

The bill which was sponsored by the member representing Irepo/Oorelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, was read for the first time on February 26, 2020, and for the second time on September 25th 2020.

Two senators from the state; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North district and Senator Kola Balogun threw their weight in support of the bill which calls for the establishment of the medical centre.
Speaking at the public hearing on Wednesday, Hon Ojerinde, indicated that “Physical access to this infrastructure will play a significant role in improving the health status of the Oyo North zone and the entire Oyo State in general.

“If there is an FMC in Igboho to service the entire Oke Ogun (13 local government areas) in Oyo North, it will complement the good work of state government and ultimately create massive employment for our people thereby reducing the problem of insecurity in the zone.

“An FMC established in Igboho will reduce the burden on the over-stretched teaching hospitals and other health institutions within the South West Region of Nigeria and the necessary parcel of land for the establishment of FMC Igboho is readily available.”

Additionally, he noted: “among other things, the establishing an FMC in Igboho will provide a platform that improves the quality of life and medical services received by the good people of Irepo, Oorelope, Olorunsogo Federal Constituency and Oyo North communities.”

Ojerinde further argued that the FMC would provide “improved access to medical services by the people of Igboho, Igbeti, Kisi and communities within and outside Oyo State” and added that it would bridge the manpower deficit gap being experienced in the local health facilities within the Federal Constituency and neighbouring communities.”
More importantly, he explained, it would help in “reducing maternal-child mortality rate within the Federal Constituency and neighbouring communities such as the Borgu Kingdom in Kwara State.”

The representative of the Oyo state government at the public hearing, the Director of Medical Services in the state’s Ministry of Health; Dr. Olufemi Adesanya applauded Hon. Ojerinde for speaking up for his people.