Seyi Makinde Approves Construction of first state own Geriatric Centre in Oyo State

The establishment of a modern health care centre in Oyo State, to attend to the health needs of pregnant mothers to elderly residents, has been authorised by Governor Seyi Makinde.


Dr Bashir Bello, Commissioner for Health, revealed this on Thursday in Ibadan while granting audience to newsmen on the present administration milestones in the health sector within the first two years of the incumbent administration.

He hinted that the Geriatric centre, with the focus to promote the health of the elderly by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities, would begin operation in August 2021, as medical professionals like nutritionists, consultants among other medical practitioners have been trained and are ready to commence work in the centre.

Bello also mentioned that the legal backing for the establishment of the centre is currently being fine-tuned by the State Ministry of Justice, while renovation work was already ongoing at the centre at Jericho in Ibadan.

“The administration thinks of how our elders are going to age gracefully, so the Ministry is packaging a Geriatric centre for the elderly, already this has been endorsed by the State executive council and currently being finalized by the Ministry of Justice for an onward movement to the State House of Assembly.

“So we are having the support of almost all arms, including especially the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for installation of alternative power facilities in our health institutions, especially the PHCs and this new Geriatric centre at Jericho in Ibadan.

“The centre is like the Nursing Home in the United State of America, we want our elderly, who might be retired administrators, businessmen or women or of whatever status in the society, to come there in the morning, get medical attention, recreate among themselves and towards evening, their families will come and take them home, this will add more to their happiness and they will not just be ageing, but be ageing well.”

Dr Bashir restated that the centre will commence operation before the end of the year, as all foundation components have been put into place.

Presently, only the University College Hospital (UCH) has the Geriatric facilities in Oyo State, donated by Chief Tony Anenih and Sir Kesington Adebutu, which care for the elderly patients of the federal institution, but the State Geriatric centre, according to the State Commissioner for Health, will care for all elderly people, not minding any social status or financial influence.