By Francesca Hangeior

The Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, has decried the lack of healthcare facilities in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, revealing that only one general hospital serves the over two million residents.

According to the monarch, the general hospital, which was initially a small cottage hospital, has been upgraded but is still inadequate to cater to the healthcare needs of the large population.

The monarch noted that the situation was a clear indication of the marginalisation of the people of the area.

He lamented that the lack of health facilities to take care of the health needs of the residents forced them to rely heavily on expensive private hospitals.

“In this local government, we only have one government institution, and a general hospital serving a population that is larger than that of Yewa and Egba. We are over two million in Ado-Odo Ota LG. How can one small cottage hospital, which has been upgraded to a general hospital, take care of such a large population?

“So, we find that we mostly depend on private institutions. Our people rely more on private hospitals and private universities, as there are no state government agencies here. We are marginalised,” he stated.

Obalanlege, who is also the chairman of the Awori Obas Forum, lamented that there were no government or state agencies within the local government, adding that the people relied heavily on private institutions.

The monarch added that the lack of government agencies and state institutions in the area has made seeking healthcare services difficult for the people.

“We have no government or state agencies within this local government. Our people rely more on private hospitals and private universities. This is not fair, and we demand that the government takes immediate action to address this imbalance,” the monarch said.

The monarch also called on the government to create more local governments in the area, citing the large population and the need for more representation.

“When elections come up, our population is more than the total number of people in Yewa land. So, we want the government to create about 14 local governments because they will be viable. None of the local governments will depend on the government,” the monarch said.

The monarch emphasised that the creation of more local governments would not only provide more representation but also lead to more development in the area.

He added, “We believe we have been marginalised and deserve more than four or five local governments. We are asking for 14 and are waiting for them to act on it.”

The monarch also expressed disappointment that despite the deputy governor of the state coming from the area, the local government still lacks basic infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.

“The fact that the deputy governor came from this area does not mean that we are not marginalized. We are seriously marginalised, and you can see that through development factors,” the monarch said.

The monarch’s call for more healthcare facilities and representation comes as the state government has been accused of neglecting the area.

Residents of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area have long complained about the lack of basic infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, schools, and roads.

The situation has led to a significant increase in the number of private hospitals and universities in the area, which many residents cannot afford.

“We are forced to pay exorbitant fees for healthcare services because the government has failed to provide adequate facilities,” a community leader in the LG identified as Oluwanifemi Adenuga told PUNCH Healthwise.

Adenuga called on the government to take immediate action to address the situation, citing the risk to public health.

“The government must act now to provide more healthcare facilities and representation for our people. We cannot continue to rely on private institutions, which are expensive and often inadequate,” he said.

Experts advocate donation of deceased persons’ organs to address shortage
The Nigerian Association of Nephrology and the Transplant Association of Nigeria have advocated the use of vital organs from deceased persons to address the shortage of organs for transplantation in the country.

A professor at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Jacob Awobusuyi, who is the president of the two associations, highlighted the challenges faced in facilitating kidney transplantation in the country.

One of the key issues, according to him, is that many patients have the financial resources for a transplant but struggle with the lack of suitable organ donors.

While noting that this challenge is a global issue, the professor lamented that the situation was worse in Nigeria due to a lack of awareness surrounding the ethical practice of organ donation and the cultural sensitivities tied to it.

Awobusuyi, however, explained that the two associations were working towards implementing a system in Nigeria similar to global practices, where organs from deceased individuals, particularly those who are brain-dead but maintained on life support, are used for transplantation.

The don emphasised that the practice of organ donation, as implemented in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, can be successfully replicated in Nigeria with proper public awareness and ethical standards.

He noted that the use of organs from deceased persons could help to address the shortage of organs for transplantation in Nigeria and to save many lives.

To further clarify, he explained that for an organ donation to take place, the individual must be diagnosed as brain dead, a process that involves rigorous medical testing to confirm the irreversible loss of brain function.

According to him, only after this diagnosis, and once the individual is maintained on life support to preserve the organs, can the family be approached with the option of donating the organs to those in need.

Awobusuyi stressed that the use of organs from deceased persons would require the consent of the family of the deceased and would be done in a culturally acceptable and ethical manner.

“Consent from the family is paramount in this process. It is not about just taking organs from the deceased; it is a process that requires the full participation of the family, and the government and hospitals cannot authorise the donation without this consent.

“One of the major goals of this initiative is to create a nationwide system that will allow for the seamless distribution of organs across Nigeria. This means that an individual who dies in a far-flung region like Maiduguri could potentially donate an organ to a patient in Lagos or any other part of the country, should the need arise,” he said.

Awobusuyi revealed that a central working committee, made up of specialists in nephrology, ophthalmology, and liver transplantation, is collaborating with the government and experts from the Nigerian diaspora to bring this vision to fruition.

While significant strides are being made, the don said the need for increased public awareness remains a top priority for the initiative.

Awobusuyi noted that the committee is working to create public awareness about the use of organs from deceased persons and to ensure that the programme is implemented in a culturally acceptable and ethical manner.

He emphasised that the programme would require the support of the government, the media, and other stakeholders to create public awareness.

The professor, however, acknowledged the prevalent misconceptions that often surround organ harvesting, such as the belief that organs are stolen for ritual purposes.

He added, “The process is legal, ethical, and will be carried out in accordance with medical standards.

“Without proper public enlightenment, Nigerians may remain hesitant or opposed to the practice of organ donation. Through education, the initiative hopes to dispel misconceptions and increase the availability of vital organs for those in need of life-saving transplants.

“As the programme progresses, the ultimate goal is to create a system that ensures every Nigerian has access to organ transplantation, whether they are in need of a kidney, liver, heart, or even a cornea for sight restoration.”

He also argued that Nigeria could overcome its organ donation challenges, ensuring that more lives are saved through the selfless act of donation.