Diaspora Nigerian donates  equipment to Bwari General Hospital, others

By Emmanuel Tortiv

A Nigerian Nurse, Mrs Bola Adeyemi, resident in Australia has donated N170million worth of fairly used hospital equipment to Bwari General Hospital and other health care centres in the FCT.

Speaking during the handover  ceremony at the Bwari General Hospital, the donor, who doubles as the President of the Nigerian Association in Canberra and the African Ambassador of the Year 2017 revealed that contrary to what is obtainable in the country Nigeria,  hospital tools adequate to the point   that one stethoscope is used per patient in Australia.

She said she put her name on the donation list and was able to collect the items free from benevolent Australians. Her worries of whether the machines will be put to good use was assuaged with the assurance that the management led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr  Osayanda Osagie that the tools will be used judiciously.

Mrs Adeyemi told an elated audience that the need to contribute to nation building moved her to initiate the collection of such used equipment in order to help her country.  Day by the day, she said the collection became larger until she finally shipped them by sea to Nigeria.

In an interview with Newsmen at the occasion, she said her gain from the donation was the assurance that those in need are catered for through the use of the equipment and the guarantee that the equipment will be put to good use in saving more lives.

“My grandfather has two hospitals. I did not take any of these things there because they are private hospitals. I have friends and people that told me, Bola you have to give me one and I said no, I am sorry I am not giving it to any private organization.  I thought taking it to a public hospital will actually be of benefit to the public more and I am happy it will be of public use.” Adeyemi  stated.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Hospitals Management Board, the representative of the Managing Director of FCT Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi disclosed that a large consignment of hospital equipment will be procured from the 2019 budget.

He appreciated Mrs Adeyemi for giving back to her country. He also appreciated Dr. Osayande Osagie saying through him, Bwari is now ‘taking care of Gwagwalada where Doctors are being trained.’

Earlier in her opening remarks on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of Bwari General Hospital, Dr. Tunji Afolabi said there was huge excitement in the hospital among staff as they access this equipment for their patients alongside a hands-on training experience to update their skills on mechanical ventilators. She appreciated Dr. Osayande Osagie for ensuring the even distribution among other hospitals in the FCT which she said will ensure improvement in patients’ care.

Lots of goodwill messages poured in from both members of the Federal Government Girls’ College Langtang Old Girls Association (FLOGA) where Adeyemi is a member and other well wishers. They included the Vice President of the Association, Mrs Fati Murtala Ibrahim, the President, Australian Alumni Association of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs Jumoke Abdullahi, and President, Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Roland Aikpogu among others.

Hundreds of equipment categorized into 36 numbered items were received and distributed by Bwari General Hospital to Maitama, Wuse, Rubochi, Zuba, Gwarinpa, Kwali, Kubwa, Asokoro, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada and several other public hospitals.

The equipment included nine units of Intensive Care Unit Ventilators estimated at N20million Naira each. 19 units of Big Patient Disposable Bags, 150 units of Stethoscopes, 310 Pen Touch, 155 Straight Artery Forceps, 40 Respiratory Valve with Water Trap and so on.

In an interview with Abuja Digest Weekly, one of the recipients, the Medical Director of Kwali General Hospital, Dr. Halima Bello Lawal was appreciative of the ventilator and other items she got saying that they will go a long way in taking care of her patients in the Neo-Natal Unit which the Hospital intended to open soon.

Dr. Lawal said as sister hospitals, such opportunities once they present themselves are usually shared between FCTA hospitals.

Abuja Digest Weekly also gathered that Mrs Adeyemi delivered a hands-on training in a train the trainer workshop on how to handle and apply the equipment to staff of Bwari General hospital last Wednesday before returning to Australia.

Mrs Bola Adeyemi and Dr. Bisi Osagie, wife of the Chief Medical Director of Bwari General Hospital all graduated from Federal Government Girls College, Langtang in Plateau State.