Some residents of Badagry communities in Lagos have cried out over planned by Group Captain O Ododo, the Commander, Nigerian Air Force Base, Ahanve, Badagry to relocate the military hospital located in the area to Northern part of the country.
They told newsmen in Badagry that the hospital had saved countless lives in the ancient town.
The Nigeria Air Force Mother and Child Hospital is a Public hospital, located at Ahanve, Badagry Local Government, Lagos State. It was established on January 1, 2014, and operates on 24hrs basis.
The Hospital is Licensed hospital by the Nigeria Ministry of Health, with facility code 24/06/1/1/1/0023 and registered as Primary Health Care Centre.
Mr Joseph Avoseh, a resident of Apa community said that relocating the hospital out of Badagry is tantamount to death sentence for many residents who usually benefited from the facilities.
According to him, the hospital is a lifeline for us in our community, it provides critical healthcare services, including eye surgeries, emergency care, and maternal deliveries. “This hospital has saved countless lives in Badagry. If it’s moved, where will our people go?
“The nearest alternative is far, and with the bad roads and frequent accidents, this relocation could be a death sentence for many,” he said.
Mr Henry Borjurenu, a resident of Wesere community in Badagry said that flooding and power outage had been a recurring challenges at the base. He appealed to the Chief of Air Force,
Air Force Marshal Hassan Abubakar, to allow the hospital to stay in the town, given its critical role in the community.
Mr Joseph Agbomenu, a resident of Kankon, the Secretariat of Badagry-West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) said urged Lagos State Government, their elective office holders to intervene and stop the commander from relocating the hospital to North.
“We’ve always had a good relationship with the base. If this hospital is moved, Badagry communities will face serious health and security threats. We can’t afford to lose it,” he said.
All efforts to get the commander to respond to the story proved abortive.
Meanwhile, a senior officer working in the hospital who requested anonymity confirmed the story.
He said that the commander had even stopped drug supplies to the facility in preparation for the relocation.
“Right now, if a patient is rushed in, there’s no paracetamol, no injections
“Sick children were brought in last recently but there was no medication to give them.
“Previous commanders maintained this hospital, but since his arrival, everything is being moved out. Equipment is disappearing, yet he collects allocations meant for the facility,” he said.
