COVID-19: Isolo GH treats 170 patients under Sanwo-olu Free Medicare
…delivers 80 babies in 24 days
By Abolaji Adebayo
No fewer than 170 patients received free medical treatment at Isolo General Hospital out of which about 80 pregnant deliveries were taken within 24 days.
This was in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that patients be treated free of charge in all the government hospitals across the state during the COVID-19 lockdown as a way of cushioning the effect of the lockdown on the residents of Lagos State.
Following the directive, the free medicare commenced in Isolo General Hospital on April 6, 2020 and ended on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
The Medical Director/CEO of the hospital, Dr. Godwin Akhabhoa, who described the initiative of the Lagos State Governor on free treatment as laudable, said the hospital has the capacity to handle the cases.
Noting that the programme showed that, the Lagos State Government has the interest of its citizens especially, the needy and the vulnerable during this trying period.
The over 170 beneficiaries, who cut across different age groups, sex, religions, states of origin, were unanimous in expressing gratitude to the governor for the gesture at the time they needed the help most, which they said was a great relief to them.
One of the beneficiaries, a 26-year-old Fashion Designer, Mrs. Amaka Chukwueke, who was delivered of a baby girl said: “I am excited and overjoyed. This is my first baby and I was not charged anything for my delivery, feeding and other services rendered to me. I thank and appreciate the Lagos State Government. I pray that God will continue to bless them for their good work.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Blessing Odiachi, a self employed mother who was delivered of a baby girl said it would have been very difficult for her family as their business was shut down because of the lockdown which made it impossible for them to earn any income.
She expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government for taking care of all her delivery expenses as she advised other women to make use of general hospitals for their medical needs.
Alhaji Musibau Olaoluwa, a 79-year old man also expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Governor for the initiative of free treatment of patients during the period of restriction of movement occasioned by the efforts to contain the spread of COVID -19 pandemic.
For the 89 year-old Mrs. Latifat Gbajobi, the free treatment was a big relief.
She said that the Lagos State government has done well, adding that it would have been very difficult for her to pay for her treatment.
Mrs. Chioma Confidence, a 35-year-old mother and Teacher who was delivered of a baby girl, said: “I am impressed and happy with the state government for the free medical treatment given to me. I have been thinking of how to pay the bills but on getting here, I was told that the service is free.”
A teacher, Ademola Mayowa joined others to thank the Lagos State Governor for his generosity towards the citizens of the state.
She said since she was admitted into the hospital she has been enjoying free meal and free medical bills. She prayed for God’s blessings upon the Governor.
The medical staff members also received accolades from the beneficiaries of the free medical services who commended them for good practices and the humane way of handling the patients.
According to the patients, all the medical staff members attending to them remained dedicated, friendly and cheerful even when they were not paying for the services.
From free bed space to feeding and laboratory services, the patients were not charged any fees.
A student, Motunrayo Abdulsalam who was delivered of a baby boy, while thanking the state government, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has removed a big burden from her family.
“I am so grateful and thankful to him. May God continue to strengthen and bless him,” she prayed.
Mr. Kayode Ijwoye said that the Lagos State Governor saved him the embarrassment of going to relatives to beg for money to pay for his medical bill.
He was full of praises to the governor for the laudable initiative. He therefore advised other state governors to emulate the Lagos State Governor and do same in their states.
A businessman, Mr. Chidiebele Nwanga, who said it was his first time to be admitted in a hospital, thanked the Lagos State Government for extending free medical service to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
According to him, it would have been very difficult to have easily paid the bills as his business was shut down during the lockdown period, making it difficult to earn any income.
A trader, Mrs. Chioma Onwumeru, who was delivered of a baby boy, could not hide her joy having benefited from the free medical service of the Lagos State Government.
She said: “It would not have been easy for us to pay the bill because there was no business during the period of lockdown. I am grateful to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for this laudable initiative.”
A Fashion Designer, Mrs. Amarachi Ubani, who was delivered of her first birthday baby and another beneficiary of the free medical service for Lagos residents in the General Hospitals, expressed her gratitude to the government for the kind gesture, saying it was a big relief to her family.
Mrs. Abdul Rasidat, who has been on bed-rest for some days, said: “Although the free medical treatment would have been over by the time I will be due for delivery, nonetheless, I still appreciate the Lagos State Governor for this wonderful gift to the residents of the state.”
Mrs. Araoye Toyin who was delivered of her second baby joined others to pour encomiums on the governor for his generosity of free treatment to patients during the period of lockdown.
She said: “It would not have been easy for us to pay this bill this time. This is a good initiative. I am very grateful to the Lagos State Governor.”
A 50-year-old businessman, Kingsley Onyechia wondered where he would have gotten the money to pay for six pints of blood besides other expenses when he did not earn any income for weeks. He praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the courage to bear the huge cost of the free medical services extended to the residents of the state during this period.
Mrs. Helen Francis, a trader, delivered of her first baby, was grateful to the Lagos State Governor for the gesture of free medical service during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“I am very happy. I thank the Governor of Lagos State for this and use this opportunity to advise other state Governors to emulate the Lagos State Governor and do same for their citizens,” she said.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Hospital, Patricia Mordi, told ECHONEWS that patients were allowed to enjoy the government’s free medicare during the one week extension of the lockdown.
