The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Public Communication, Pastor Remmy Hazzan, has said that the 250-bed hospital hurriedly commissioned by Ex-Governor Ibikunle Amosun, at the twilight of his administration, is not habitable, and cannot harbour patients.
Pastor Hazzan disclosed this on Sunday, when he was responding to a question on a live radio programme, on why the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun has not put the hospital into use, particularly at this emergency period of COVID-19.
Hazzan said the hospital is barely 50% completed, and can best be described as a construction site which cannot harbour patients.
Great Achiever Magazine reports that Hazzan described the painting of the hospital building outside as misleading, while three floors in the building have not been plastered.
He, however, said the eagerness of the government to complete the project cannot be faulted, as exemplified by the project review committee which dwelt much on it, leading to the engagement of the contractor.
Hazzan said: “After the project review committee turned in its interim report, we engaged the contractor, even though he was asking for outrageous variation of 50% from the original N7bn.
“In the course of engaging him, even if we pay him the variation he was asking for, the contractor confessed that he would need 150 days of night and day job to complete it.
“If that magnitude of construction work will go on in a facility, why take the patients there? It will expose them to sound nuisance, noise and many things that will not make the place safe, because earth moving machines will be working round the clock to ensure that the place is well finished.
“Therefore, the hospital is not habitable to harbour patients and it is not completed yet. Those who said it is 82% completed or whatever percentage they gave, should visit the place and see for themselves”.
Hazzan assured that work will resume there any moment from now to finish that facility because,”it is in our interest as a state to take our medical architecture to another higher level”.
On the efforts of the state government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s aide confirmed that 3 isolation centres were put in place in the following locations in the first instance: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu; the Model School at Ikenne which will be equipped and General Hospital, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, which has a capacity for 100 patients, and fully renovated.
In addition, Hazzan disclosed that the houses donated by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr. Fola Adeola, to serve as isolation centres will be equipped with ICU beds as soon as possible to facilitate their usage.
He therefore urged the residents of Ogun State to abide and comply with the various measures rolled out by the government to tackle the coronavirus, while emphasising that enforcement team has been put in place to ensure compliance.
Pastor Hazzan advised the people to stay at home as much as possible, avoid gathering of more than 20 people, wash their hands with soap and running water in order to avoid contracting coronavirus.
He assured that government will not relent in its sensitisation advocacy, as town criers will be engaged in various communities for further awareness.
Pastor Hazzan, again cautioned transporters to adhere strictly to the recommended number of passengers to carry in their vehicles, while those who flout the government directives will have their vehicles impounded.
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