To ensure that patients’ relatives have a decent place to bathe and rest, the Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA has commenced the construction of a 36-bed facility at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
Speaking during the turning of the sod for the project, recently, the Hope President of the club, Rotarian Adeyemi Adesina explained that the project was conceived “to let people that bring patients to the hospital have a decent place to have their bath, change their clothes and rest a bit if possible.”
Adesina stated that the project would be completed before the end of the current Rotary year, adding that members of the club were eager to see it through because of its importance.
He said: “When the team from Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA met with the management of LASUTH to see where we can meet any of their needs, the project that we have come to turn the sod for today was actually mentioned. The project is dear to the management of the hospital; it is also actually dear to us. Many people that have heard about this project confirmed that they have had patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that stayed more than one month in the hospital and they had no place to rest within the hospital. And we know that not everybody can afford the cost of medication and still afford the cost of a decent accommodation within or around the hospital. So, we plugged into the project because almost everybody feels that they have a need for the project. We have made a commitment that we will actualise the project. It’s a very big project but we know that by the grace of God we will accomplish it before the end of this Rotary year. So, we hope to commission this project before July 1, this year.”
On her part, Rotarian Ezinne Obioha, who represented the District Governor, Rotarian Ifeyinwa Rita Ejezie, said the project goes a long way to prove the extent to which Rotary can go in taking care of humanity. She stated that the project would be handed over to the hospital free when completed, stressing that the club would do everything possible to ensure that it is delivered in three months.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Prof. Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, appreciated the club for choosing the hospital to construct the facility. His words: “When I assumed duty as CMD a few years back, I noticed this gap.
I noticed that unlike in developed countries, we are still a relation-dependent healthcare facility. What do I mean? When you bring your patient here, you either stay with them or you get a caregiver. But if you go to the United Kingdom (UK) or the U.S. you put your patient and go home and everything that needs to be done will be done. Nobody is going to be asked to go and buy this and that.
“I remember that as far back as about 20 years ago, when I was director of Clinical Services here, we had tried to fashion a system where we will be less dependent on relations but it’s not possible; even culturally our people want to be able to say ‘I stayed with him; I was with him’. So, the reality is that relatives stay with patients sometimes for days and they have nowhere to sleep. So, how do they manage? They either throw a mat somewhere in the open and sleep or they sleep in their cars. Mosquitoes will bite them and they themselves will get sick. So, it has always been in our pocket list to have a project like this. I’m so delighted that this day has come to be. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the president and members of Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA for thinking of us; you could have gone elsewhere. We pray that God will replenish your pockets.”
