Akinsanya Inaugurates Services, Commissions Ambulance Service at Akesan Health Centre

Senior Comrade Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, Executive Chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has inaugurated operations at the newly built Akesan Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), hailing the facility as a milestone in grassroots healthcare delivery, reports thegazellenews.com

He also seized the occasion to inaugurate a new ambulance for the use of the health centre in particular and other health centres in the council.

Friday, 20 February 2026, residents, health workers and dignitaries converged on the centre, located beside the Oba’s Palace at Palace Bus Stop (before Afolabi Bus Stop), Akesan, for a start-up and free medical outreach programme organised to commence services.

The intervention, designed to widen access to basic healthcare, featured blood pressure and blood sugar checks, eye screening with free reading glasses, tuberculosis screening supported by a mobile digital X-ray van, and medical consultations.

Explaining the scope of the outreach, the LCDA’s Medical Officer for Health, Dr. Uti Moma, said the programme prioritised early detection and preventive care.

She noted that a mobile X-ray van had been deployed to strengthen tuberculosis screening, with suspected cases undergoing sputum collection and chest imaging.

“We will be using this medium to do some free medical outreaches. There is an X-ray van here already,” he said. “We will be doing tuberculosis screening where they will collect sputum from those that are suspected to have TB cases. Then we also do chest X-ray for them with the X-ray van.”

She added that the exercise also targeted hypertension and diabetes, conditions he described as common among residents.

“We have people that will be screening for BP. For those that are hypertensive, we will be able to see them on time to be able to treat accordingly. We will also be checking for sugar to treat diabetes for those that have diabetes so that they can follow up,” he stated.

Beyond diagnostic services, Dr. Moma stressed the importance of counselling and continuity of care.

“Not just to check the BP but to also advise for follow-up. Because giving drugs is not just the end point for hypertensive and diabetic patients,” he said.

“We also need to counsel them for follow-up visitation so that diabetes and hypertension will not lead to complications.”

Highlighting another component of the intervention, he said eye screening and free reading glasses were available, particularly for older residents.

“We will be doing eye screening. We have glasses here for those that will need reading glasses from 40 and above,” she said.

Dr. Moma disclosed that several residents with underlying conditions had already been identified, noting that many attendees specifically sought chest X-rays and eye care.

She, however, commended the council leadership for enabling the outreach and pledged continued commitment from the medical team.

Chairman Akinsanya, in his remarks, described the commencement of activities at the facility as a defining moment for the LCDA. He expressed gratitude to national and state leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Adefulure, for their roles in delivering the project.

“To say that I’m happy would be an understatement,” he said. “I want to sincerely thank our father, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want to equally thank Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire for bringing this gigantic edifice to the heart of Akesan.”

While describing the centre as more than a conventional PHC, the Chairman said its scale justified a higher status. “It’s a mini General Hospital. Calling it a Primary Health Care Centre is an understatement,” he declared. “In no distant time, it will become a General Hospital.”

He further praised the Alakesan of Akesan, Oba Nojeemdeen Aberejo Abidemi Ogunjobi, for his collaboration and support, noting that the monarch had consistently advocated the facility’s utilisation.

Accordingly, he assured residents that the council would prioritise staffing and service quality.

“We are going to ensure that we have those that matter, those that will work here and ensure that people get better and sufficient medical services here,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the maintenance of public infrastructure, Akinsanya pledged proactive oversight. He emphasised that prompt repairs would prevent deterioration and protect the investment.

“When you talk about maintenance culture, it is when there is little damage and it is not attended to on time. There will be another one until it escalates,” he said. “We will not allow that to happen. If there is need for little maintenance, we will do it on time.”

He also committed to regular supervision of the facility. “Once in a week, I will be here to see things myself and ensure that things are working fine here. As far as maintenance is concerned, you can go to bed and sleep. We will maintain it,” he added.

Akinsanya described the ambulance as a complement to the service of the health centres.

“It’s meant to complement the services of the health centres, to convey sick people to general hospitals and other bigger health facilities in case of emergency,” he said.

Also speaking, Abdul-Ganiyu Adile Ayuba, Member of the House of Representatives representing Alimosho Federal Constituency, lauded the transformation of the site and the significance of the project. Recalling the former state of the location, he described the development as remarkable.

“To say I’m happy is just trying to save the word. But today I’m highly excited. I’m so much happy and I feel on top of the world for witnessing this,” he said. “I remember this place in those days. You used to kill rats, grass cutters here. Look at this edifice.”

He commended President Tinubu, Princess Adejoke Adefulure and the LCDA leadership for facilitating the project, while calling for additional investments to strengthen operations.

“Like Oliver Twist, we are simply asking for more. We want this place to be a flagship so that they have 24-7 service here,” he said.

Ayuba, who said he personally underwent medical checks at the outreach, urged residents to adopt regular health assessments. “Health is wealth. We should be checking all this every time. It’s not just once in a while. On a monthly basis, on a quarterly basis, we should check all these vitals,” he advised.

He further expressed optimism that, with sustained government and stakeholder support, the facility would continue to expand its diagnostic and treatment capacity for the benefit of the community.