It gives me great pleasure to be back here in Saki, less than three months after our last visit to commission this [Specialist Hospital]. When we started work on the conversion and upgrade of this facility, it was initially intended to be an Observatory, Isolation and Treatment Centre to support our efforts towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. But, we also had more long-term goals to ensure that it fits into our overall plan to improve the healthcare system in the nooks and crannies in Oyo State.
When we took over office last year, our healthcare system was not in the best shape. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to make the tough decisions to leverage the situation and accelerate our plans to address the dilapidating healthcare infrastructure in Oyo State. We were pressured to create temporary isolation centres in stadiums and other open spaces, but we remained steadfast in our resolve to upgrade existing facilities because we saw an opportunity even in that state of despair.
This [Saki Specialist Hospital], as well as the [infectious disease centre] in Olodo, are direct results of our well-thought-out approach. When the history of Oyo State is written, it will be on the record, that this administration turned the existing infrastructure into state-of-the-art medical facilities.
We are confident that the research that will be done at these [facilities] will bring benefits to the people of Oyo State. And will contribute in no little measure to slowing down the spread of infectious diseases that often ravage our communities, such as Lassa Fever, Yellow Fever, Tuberculosis and others
So, what provisions and equipment do we have here at this [Specialist Hospital], Saki? Well, we have a lot of amenities to be proud of. I’ll just mention a few.
Here, we have a ten-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with two Gradian State-of-the-Art mechanical ventilators with humidifiers, various accessories and three patient monitors.
We also have two CPAP machines with face shields and re-breather bags to deliver maximum oxygen requirements.
Additionally, we have a twelve-bed High Dependency Unit (HDU) with piped oxygen.
Other facilities we have here at the [Saki Specialist Hospital] are:
Twelve-bed Female General Ward, twenty-bed Male General Ward, an operating theatre and a recovery room.
We also have some high-end laboratory and equipment that will aid research into infectious diseases. The medical community will be excited to know that we have Cobas c 111 analysers here now. Also, we have a Parameter Haematology Analyser, Clotting Profile Analyser, autoclave and biosafety cabinet.
If I am permitted to go on, I will mention some other provisions we have here. I did say we have quite a few.
So, there is a twelve-bed Observatory Unit, ten-bed Isolation Unit, and seven-bed Resuscitation Unit.
And to power this centre we have two diesel generators (400 KVA and 40KVA) and fourteen, 110 watts solar-street-lights for perimeter lighting.
That is not all. We also have a pharmacy, CCTV control room, mobile x-ray unit and more. Let me stop there.
Before I conclude, I must especially thank Professor Temitope Alonge for once again, bringing his years of experience as a versatile administrator and healthcare practitioner to bear on this project. We surely need more people like him consulting for and working with the government at different levels. Thank you.
We are always happy when we see progress in any sector of our economy. The truth is that it is the coming together of development in these different sectors that lead to a more versatile economy. If Oyo State can start with attracting medical tourism from other states within Nigeria, it means that economic activities will significantly improve. This is what we mean when we say that healthcare is one of the four pillars of our Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023.
As we upgrade these facilities, we will continue to equip them and maintain them. We will continue to ensure that these facilities have the best personnel that will attend to the needs of patients and clients.
So, permit me at this point to declare open the [Saki Specialist Hospital] to the glory of God and the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.
– Seyi Makinde, September 9, 2020