Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
It was all praises and commendations for the Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA) on Thursday, at the commissioning of the fully rehabilitated Baiyeku Primary Health Centre (PHC) and an additional block of offices.
The project which was among the capital projects embarked upon by the new chairman was achieved within the 100 days in office of the chairman.
In rehabilitating the facility, the council removed the roofs which had been dilapidated and were not providing the much-needed cover and replaced them with new ones. The entire ceiling was also replaced. In addition, modern windows and doors were also fixed to the facilities to replace the out of touch and out of date ones that were in use before the intervention by Omo’ba Aroyewun. The entire facility’s toilets were also upgraded to modern ones.
Also, the entire floor was tiled to make the place look better, respectable and neat, after necessary wall rehabilitation, the structures were also repainted to give it a new look and the damaged water system from which the health facility has suffered inadequate water supply was also replaced with a new water pumping machine.
Speaking at the commissioning of Ibeshe PHC, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun acknowledged and commended Councillor Saidat Adeoba, the councillor representing Ward C3, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, for calling his attention to the terrible state of the PHC which prompted his visit and the determination to put it in good order to serve the populace.
Aroyewun who also stated that his administration is being guided by the results from the needs assessment of residents, added that he is always mindful of charge from leaders like Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun and Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe that he must not fail in his position as the chairman.
“When we started this journey, we went around all the communities to ask what the people truly need. We wrote everything down, community by community. We did not promise heaven and earth, but we promised to do our best—and by the grace of God, we will deliver.”
Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, a GAC chieftain and former Minister of Works, who commissioned the medical facility, while congratulating and commending Omoba Aroyewun for the achievement in his first 100 days, charged that more residents should be trained in health services.
“We should start training people from this community to become Community Health Workers, because this is a community project. We need trained young health workers that can move around the neighborhood and identify people, especially senior citizens who are in need of healthcare services so they can come here.
“This should be similar to the community health programme that we used to have while growing up. Those people always go from house to house to check on people in need in the community. That is why we must train people from here so they can serve their own community effectively.
Commending the council chairman, Sen. Ogunlewe said: “Chairman, you have started well, and you will end well. May God give you the wisdom to continue to do more for this community.
He charged the chairman to focus on serving the people very well so as to get good rewards.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya in his brief remarks, said that the chairman is doing the exact thing that he was sent to the council for while acknowledging his impressive performance.
The Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Alhaji Rasaq Ibiyeye, who said that the CDC was the first group of stakeholders to endorse the candidacy of Aroyewun and his Vice before the election, expressed his happiness that he has not failed within his 100 days in office.
“In just 100 days in the office, we have seen great work from you, sir.
“If you can remember, we—the CDC—were the first set of people to endorse you after your election. And on that day, Chairman, you promised us that you were going to do a lot of things. What we are seeing today is part of that promise—fulfilled in just 100 days.
“So, we can only imagine what you will accomplish in four years. Chairman, we thank you, sir,” the CDC leader said.
While also emphasising the turnaround that the present administration has done on the health facility, the CDC chairman enjoined residents of Baiyeku to make adequate use of the centre instead of going to unlicensed facilities.
“Regarding this Primary Health Centre, I want to speak to our people in Baiyeku. Before renovation, when I used to enter this place, it was very bad. But today, if you enter here, you will be surprised at how a place can be transformed within just three months.
“I want to plead with our people: now that this place is upgraded, let us make good use of it. Let us stop going to those roadside nurses who don’t offer proper medical care. Come here—this place will give you good care. And I am very sure, by the grace of God, that our Chairman will ensure this place is properly maintained,” he said.
Mrs Abiola Anifowoshe, Health Officer, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, thanking the council chairman for the full rehabilitation of the Baiyeku PHC added that he has shown that his administration is committed to growth of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
She emphasised the staff are seeing his commitment to improve health care in the grassroots across the PHCs, but also pleaded for his intervention in Elepe PHC.
Other dignitaries at the commissioning were Barr. Ade Ayeni, Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Chief (Mrs) Bolanle Basorun, former Sole Administrator, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Prince Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, councillors, CDA/CDC chieftains and residents.
