By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Kogi State House of Assembly has called the State Government to upgrade Ikoyi Health Center in Ijumu Local Government to a full fledged General Hospital to enable it cope with the increasing health needs of the people.
The call was contained in a resolution of the House issued at plenary in Lokoja.
The adoption followed the adoption of a motion on Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Ishaya Omotayo Adeleye (APC-Ijumu), calling for upgrade of the Health Centre.
The House also appealed to the State Government to give approval for the provision of necessary personnel, medical equipment, essential drugs, modern infrastructure and logistics required to transform the Health Centre to a functional General Hospital.
Presenting the motion earlier, the Ijumu State Constituency representative said that the Ikoyi community was densely populated but lacked a commensurate health facility like General Hospital.
Hon. Omotayo added that she was concerned that the only available health care facility being managed by the Local Government was not only grossly inadequate but underfunded, understaffed and poorly equipped.
These, according her, have made it incapable of meeting the health care needs of the people saying that the health centre was established during the colonial era and wondered how it was expected to cater for the present population.
She held that the upgrade would address the health needs of the people, serve as referral centre for the community and its environs and as well, provide prompt and seamless health care services to people at Ikoyi community and its environs.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Umar Yahaya (APC-Omala) said the population of Ikoyi has greatly increased today compared to the colonial era when the health center was established.
He pointed out that the Primary Health Centre, in its present state, has become grossly inadequate to cater for the health needs of Ikoyi residents and adjourning communities.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Ibrahim Abbas (APC-Ankpa II), said he strongly supported the motion in view of the accident that occurred over the weekend in his presence and there was no immediate health facility to cater for the emergency.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf (APC-Lokoja II) commended the State Government on the renovation of 70 health centres across the 21 LGAs of the state.
He added that bidding for another 84 health centers were ongoing, pointing out that the aforesaid indicated that the state government really cared for the health and general well-being of the people.
The Speaker adopted the following overwhelming voice votes from members at plenary and directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Chogudo to convey the resolution to the state government. (Ends)