A veteran broadcaster and media consultant, Mrs Ronke Kolawole has rallied support behind Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s second term.
Speaking with some journalists shortly after a private tour of facility in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, the veteran broadcaster, who is an indigene of the town described the visible transformation that has taken place in the community as really breathtaking.
According to her, the Ilawe Ekiti community has never had it so good as far as infrastructure and socioeconomic development is concerned.
“This is real dividends of democracy at work. I’m impressed and proud to witness this breathtaking transformation that I have seen around here.”
Specifically, Mrs Kolawole, who until recently was the Deputy Director News at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, said one of the marvel of Ilawe Ekiti is the new look General Hospital, which had hitherto been consigned to a mere consulting clinic because of its dilapidated state over the years.
“The last time I visited the Ilawe General Hospital, it was in a sorry state, totally decrepit. You could tell that the place was just existing in name only because things had gone pretty awful. Poor facility, unmotivated workforce, low patronage and totally moribund, just name it.
“Few weeks ago when I saw the fanfare on display when the governor came to inaugurate the hospital, I thought to myself that this could well be another make-believe thing or just for the optics. So I thought to myself why not just go for a self-assessment to ascertain the state of things hence I visited. I didn’t recognise the place at all.
“Everything looked out of this world right from the road leading to the hospital. Everything looked sparklingly new. I was like is this really possible, the level of transformation that has taken place here? But I got a real shocker when I went to inspect the entire facility itself.
“Apart from seeing new structures dotting the landscape, I saw a newly equipped facility. I was assisted by one of the medical personnel who took me on a tour of the different state-of-the-arts equipment that have been fully installed in the facility and openly boasted that the hospital can favourably compete with any other one around in terms of amenities.”
She recalled that the medical personnel who would not be named because he was not authorised to speak, said, “As we speak, the hospital can conveniently carry out series of standard laboratory tests as it houses electrolite, urea and creatine machines, blood count machine. It can carry out homoprofile test, culture and sensitivity test. Even a blood bank was also installed.”
“In addition, the facility can now boast of standard theatre with an aesthetic machine. A radiant warmer is also available for babies. Aside totally rehabilitating all available wards, a new maternity ward was constructed with modern bed and mattresses.”
While further giving an assessment of the hospital, Mrs Kolawole, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ward 5, Unit 5, Ilawe Ekiti, revealed that another distinct feature at the hospital is the availability of power supply.
“With the benefit of hindsight, Governor BAO has permanently resolved the challenge of power supply that mars treatment at many hospitals by keying into solar energy that has the capacity to power the hospital all at once even with the theatre for twenty-four hours. He also donated a 7.5 kva generator as a back up.”
Pressed further, she said, “From my observation, generally the hospital is wearing a new look and sparkling, so friendly while the environment is clean. Even the car park and the perimeter fencing gladdened my heart.
“Everywhere I turned, I saw the smiling faces of workers who are now happy to come to work because of the new look of their workplace while the availability of equipment is also a moral booster especially.
“The low patronage has greatly improved since members from the two adjoining towns in Ekiti Southwest(Igbara Odo and Ogotun can now easily access the hospital because service delivery is now prompt just as manpower has also increased as additional eight nurses were posted to strengthen the workforce with the hope of employing more medical doctors.
“Looking at the transformation of the Ilawe General Hospital and other projects executed by Governor BAO, I’m proud of being an indigene of Ekiti state.
“Of course, I’m aware that healthcare is a priority of the governor as evident in what I saw in Ilawe Ekiti, especially the quality of the hospital has portrayed him as a man of integrity and a man of his words who wants to bring smiles to the faces of the Ekiti Southwest.
“Seeing the jubilant moods of the beneficiaries, it shows that the electorate are not asking for too much from their leaders after all. All they need are the basic amenities and when these are made available, they can lead comfortable and decent lives.
“With joy in my heart after my private tour, I made my way out of the hospital to the welcoming arms of the twenty kilometers stretch of the newly rehabilitated Ilawe/Ikere road which almost became jinxed before Governor BAO took it up, sealed and delivered to the motoring public.”
