The ancient town of Omupo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State went agog on Tuesday, (April 2, 2019) when the sons and daughters of the community, home and diaspora, converged in the town for the commissoing of a world-class Maternity Wing at the Omupo Cottage Hospital.
The commissioning exercise apparently signified a dream come true and mission accomplished for the entire residents of Omupo and about 35 neighbouring communities the cottage is serving.
The well attended commissioning ceremony was attended by the Olomu of Omupo, Oba Yakubu Buari, representative of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, top government officials from the state, Medical personnel, traditional chiefs and a host of friends and lovers of Omuland.
The Maternity Ward was a brain child of the joint efforts of KWASCIDA and selfless contributions from the community with the total cost of N10,366,510. The KWASCIDA contributed the sum of N6,487,659 while the remaining balance was donated by the Omupo community.
Prior to the completion of the Maternity Ward, women and nursing mothers in the community were struggling to access contemporary medical care services elsewhere, in many occasions they had to travel long distance to find these services but with the official opening of this Ward, with state of-the-art-equipment, affordable and quality health care services have been brought to their door steps.
In his address at the occasion the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed commended people of Omupo for teeming up with government for the realization of a befitting maternity wing in the Omupo cottage hospital.
Governor Ahmed who was represented on the ocassion by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Muhideen Alalade pledged that his government’s focal point of attention was to assist communities and districts that have shown commitment to execute people oriented projects.
The governor urged the people of Omupo to make good use of the facilities so as to serve the purpose for which they were procured.
“It is heartwarming that the delivery of this maternity wing is coming to reality in the life of our administration in the state. Indeed, today’s occasion represents a dream come true and mission fulfilled for people of Omupo. As you aware, this maternity wing is Central to the operations of this cottage hospital as it will no doubt enhance health delivery service in Omupo land and it’s environs” he said
The Governor appealed to the people of Omupo to make the best use of the facilities and imbibe maintenance culture so as to serve them better and longer.
Governor Ahmed also enjoined people of other communities in the state to take a cue from the shining example of Omupo community by a way of partnering with KWASCIDA for the attainment of laudable projects in their respective domains.
Also speaking, the state Director of Medical Services and Training, Dr Johnson Adegboyega who represented the state Commissioner for Health, Hon. Usman Kolo Rufiu disclosed that the state government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed had initiated some laudable programmes to improve the life of the mothers and their babies.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ifelodun local government area, Hon. Abdulfatah Adeniyi Garba thanked the state government for considering part of Ifelodun district with such magnificent hopital building with state of the art equipment in it’s maternity wing.
The Olomu of Omupo, Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buari commended sons and daughters of Omupo land for making the dream of having a standard hospital in Omupo a reality.
The state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Wasiu Odewale thanked God for giving him the ample opportunity to facilitate people oriented projects like maternity wing of Omupo Cottage hospital during his tenure as a good ambassador of Omupo community.
Dr Ismail Bakare, Dr In-charge of Omupo Cottage Hospital, pledged that the facilities procured for the maternity wing will render standard and quality health care services for the people of the District.
The National President of Omupo Descendants Union (ODU), Dr Monisoye Olorunsola Afolabi commended the sons and daughters of Omupo for showing deep commitment to the project, saying that community’s great concern on the project informed the tremendous achievement recorded which he said is beyond the expectation.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman Management Committee, Dr Ibrahim Jamiu Otuyo thanked the Governor for making their dream of having a befitting and world-class Maternity Ward a reality and commended the state Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Wasiu Odewale, a son of the soil, for being a pride and good ambassador of Omupo land and for his efforts in delivering the community’s dreams.
Other highlights of the event included presentations of hospital equipments to the management of hospital by various groups and organisations.
End.
