Eromosele Ebhomele

Revelations have emerged that the mutli-billion naira Cardiac, Renal Centre within the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos, western Nigeria, has packed up almost a year after it was commissioned by former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

In March 2015, the former governor had commissioned the centre, one of which was expected to attract revenue for the state and cater for the health need of people suffering from related ailments.

Sources within the centre have revealed that the centre has not commenced full operation since then because most of the facilities in place, as provided by the contractor, Deux Project, are not up to standard.

Some of the staff also revealed same to the Committee on Health Services of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by Olusegun Olulade, when the committee paid a visit to the centre.

The committee was at the centre to ascertain how it had functioned since its commissioning.
The committee members were shocked about the revelations that emerged during the visit after the members learnt that some of the equipment installed by the contractor at the centre have never functioned for a single day.

It was revealed that the Catheterization Laboratory (Cathlab) machine, a diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualise the arteries and chambers of the heart, and treat any abnormality found, which was said to have cost about $1.5 million was not functioning,
Other non-functional facilities at the centre include a theatre unit with two theatre suites with laminar flow air-control; central sterilisation and supply unit; four bed recovery room echo lab; stress lab; 24 dialysis machines; pharmacy; laboratories; ophthalmology clinic for eye screening; physiotherapy/rehabilitation unit.

It was also learnt that most consultants, professionals and doctors employed by the centre had left since they could not operate the facilities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Prof. Babatunde Green, also confirmed the situation to the committee
He even explained that the building was already suffering some defects.

Prof. Green said the building already had cracks on its walls. It also has electrical defects as well as defect with the elevator, adding that Renescor Health, which manages the centre under a Public/Private Partnership scheme, had been responsible for the maintenance of the building so it does not collapse.

He said: “since we came on board, we have not been able to do anything because a lot of the equipment that were installed are not functioning.
“Apart from the fact that the elevators are not working, they don’t have ventilation and this is dangerous to the patients because if you are taking a patient in that kind of lift, the patient could suffocate before you get to the theatre.

“Even in the operating rooms, there are no cooling systems. The machine in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory which cost about 1.5 million dollars has never worked from the day it was installed.
“We have tried everything humanly possible to ensure that things are put in order here; we have written several letters to the Ministry of Health and there have been no response or whatsoever.

“We have brought engineers to fix the minor problems, such as the electrical defects, but they are requesting for the drawing so as to make the work easier for them but the contractor has not cooperated in this regard at all.
“This place should by now be making good revenue for the state because it is the only one in Nigeria and people with heart and renal related ailments are supposed to be coming here for treatment.

“We have employed staff whom we are paying on monthly basis but nothing is happening here.”
Deux Project Limited, according to findings by the committee, executed the project and several other project within the state.

Some of these projects include Maternal and Child Centres in Badagry, Epe, Lekki; Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Auditorium; Fence, Arcade and Driveway in Lekki.
Members of the committee, which include some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, could not hide their disappointment.

The committee members promised to investigate the issue and ensure justice was done.
“We can’t fold our arms and not look into why the equipment here are not working. I was on a television station a few days ago and I was bragging about this place; telling the presenters that it is the only one in Nigeria and that it is the best in Africa, but I never knew that nothing is happening here,” Olulade said.

The committee, according to findings, has sat twice over the issue, but when contacted, Olulade could not speak as the committee had not concluded its investigation.

www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/02/09/one-year-after-multi-billion-naira-lagos-cardiac-renal-facilities-pack-up/

PIC1 : The Renal Centre
PIC2 : Inside the renal centre.
Inset: Governor Babatunde Fashola commissioning the centre in March, 2015

Good, Let me call EFCC

consistency and maintanance are some of our problems in this country

These politicians better have my money.

#BBHMM

To say that the centre is the only one in Nigeria is a big joke. Take a visit to other centres in the country and you will hide your face. Centres like UNTH Enugu, National hospital Abuja, Garriki hospital Abuja,etc not to mention some private centres like Reddington,etc.
For your information,UNTH,Enugu is the only designated National Centre for Cardiothoracic Surgery in the whole of Nigeria. Any other centre is an off-shoot.

hum!!!!


after spending billions on this project..... the government and health agencies are now allowing it to rot away
because of lack of manpower to operate it and our maintenance culture is almost zero

It was also learnt that most consultants, professionals and doctors employed by the centre had left since they could not operate the facilities.

why building such multi-billion naira building and facilities when you don't have capable hands to operate the equipment and if you must do...... why not train them on how to operate it.

Tell me something


Its just a pity that a beautiful edifice like this is wasting away #
Govt of waste, by waste... And for waste

Mismanagement!

This is a typical Nigerian problem, maintenance. Instituting and running such a sophisticated center requires alot of political will and commitment. I remember when Fashola commissioned the centre, I told my colleagues that it was a political stunt and an accolade grabbing act, used to drain Lagos money into his pocket.
I would however pick holes in the article, some statements there are far from the truth. Telling us that the Profs and Consultants abandoned the equipments cos they couldn't operate them is laughable at best and negates what the last correspondent said.

where is the self acclaimed "best thing" to have happened to Lagos state

H

Eyyaa! Total Waste Of Funds And Resources! #Clueless Pipo#

Welcome to Africa where facilities are never maintained.

Op has a speed dial to the Super MODs. Four posts and it's pushed up to FP.

Gud

These are equipment and materials worth billions of naira and the so called government just don't care.....

Commissioned by a certain 'SUPER MINISTER'

God help us in this country!

Maybe na Nepa light wreck the equipments

did it ever work sef??

what more d u expect when people who are in charge got there by 'connection' and not because they have a track record of d capability.....


Nigeria: a Corruption riddled society where every one gets involved in a project not because of its relevance to d society but because of what they will 'chop' from it

Visionless government...

njideoby:
To say that the centre is the only one in Nigeria is a big joke. Take a visit to other centres in the country and you will hide your face. Centres like UNTH Enugu, National hospital Abuja, Garriki hospital Abuja,etc not to mention some private centres like Reddington,etc.
For your information,UNTH,Enugu is the only designated National Centre for Cardiothoracic Surgery in the whole of Nigeria. Any other centre is an off-shoot.

I stopped reading when I got to the point where he mentioned it's the only center in the country. That's a joke. Aside the centres mentioned, we have one in Abuja. Not sure if the UCH and UITH centres are operational now.
UNTH being designated as a CTSU center was done to boost sub-specialisation, it doesn't necessarily mean they have the best centre or surgeons. I recall that my CTSU consultants while I was in training had to travel out for their senior residency at that time (one to SA another to India), though they alluded to the fact that the first CTSU prof was from UNTH. Thus Describing other centres as an offshoot is derogatory and inappropriate.

smh


but wait ooooo, Is it that this Nigger is simply bent on ruining Fashola's good name or Fashola really duped Lagos?

Change!

All hail corruption!!!

wow!

ijustdey:



we have lost any sense of maintenance culture

after spending billions on this project..... the government and health agencies are now allowing it to rot away

Kindly read/re-read the write-up again. Thanks

Fashola/Tinubu/Ambode of ACN/APC are the biggest progreTHIEF scammers ever.


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Beyond the paparazzi of photo-ops we know that the General Hospital in Epe, the original home constituency of Speaker Ikuforiji is in tatters and such a deplorable condition:



www.nairaland.com/attachments/1441819_H3_jpg195e7c5b979e3c0c1d452e90d51ebca2




www.nairaland.com/attachments/1441826_H5_jpg64378f861b2175c385b08ef0b2ac84a7



More pictures and story: https://www.nairaland.com/1536965/deplorable-conditions-epe-general-hospital


Beyond the physically deteriorating situation with many of the health facilities, the working conditions for the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians etc is nothing to write home about hence regular strikes. However our excellent governor's reaction is to sack them and ferry his sick father abroad for treatment:



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Since Fashola spuriously claims he sacked the doctors to protect public interest, we should ask: If the governor is to protect the people, why did he send his own father abroad for treatment? Why are the necessary medical equipment not available in Lagos hospitals since we have medical experts that can treat his father here?
"Why has he resorted to the use of incompetent 'referral doctors' who are being enticed with a wage twice what they ought to have been paid if they are in regular employment? CONMESS fully, according to the Lagos NMA, would cause just additional N33.5 million monthly, compared to its looting spree to line private hands and profiteers," the statement reads in part.

From: http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/main-square/69955-doctors-strike-grounds-medical-services-lagos-5.html#post626236


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Not forgetting that the JagbaJantis head of the cabal himself na to dey go obodo oyinbo each time body dey pain am small:









Why should we entrust ourselves to these LOOTocrats who have failed woefully to deliver on their promise to Lagosians these past 16 years?

- How many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, hospital administrators are recruited annually for a state whose IGR has increased over 53 times since 1999?
- How many hospital beds and clinic consulting rooms plus equipment have been added despite annual budgets increased over 10 times since 2000?

That is what you get when we are all about commissioning projects before they are actually completed. Shame on the ppl that awarded the contract in the first place.

This is what professor Aderibigbe used to tell us then. Money cannot buy technology. You'd suffer if you try. I'm sure it isn't a piece of cake to keep a $1.5million medical machine continually working.

They actually bought and installed the equipment but the maintenance & management problems that arose choked the vision to death.

Hmmmm.. Not surprised. Its a govt for the contractor who's a family member and family contractor got d deal, sub contract to another firm at a low ball price and sub contractor do anyhow job while the family contractor is away in UK or USA enjoying his life.

God go help naija.


Check my signature for ur customised wristband