Vandals have targeted the 80-bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Pakiotan, Ogbomoso, a Federal Government-established facility, sparking widespread concern among residents and community leaders about the security of healthcare services in the area.
Equipped with essential medical supplies, including beds, medications, and laboratory equipment, the hospital was designed to serve as an urban health centre.
It was developed under the leadership of former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and officially commissioned on 27 May 2023 before being handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health through the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
Addressing journalists at the hospital, the Onipakiotan of Pakiotan, Oba James Oyetunji Ojo, condemned the vandalism, calling it “economic subversion” that undermines community development. “The destruction of this vital infrastructure is a significant concern for our community and necessitates urgent and coordinated action.”
Oba Ojo emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We must ensure that those responsible for vandalising public property are held accountable. As the saying goes, offenders must be brought to book, or the book brought to them.”
He further revealed that some cables had already been vandalised prior to the commissioning and were replaced by Mr. Sunday Dare.
“Since the handover, however, there has been no progress. We have no access to the facility and no security in place. Recently, we observed signs of intrusion.” The monarch added, “When one of Hon. Dare’s aides joined us for an inspection, we were horrified to find that all the cables, 150 solar batteries, electrical appliances, ceiling fans, and other valuable items had been stripped away.”
Highlighting the community’s contribution, Oba Ojo noted that eight plots of land were donated to improve maternal and child healthcare for Ogbomoso and nearby areas. Yet, despite this, the hospital has remained idle for over a year. He urged UCH and the Ministry of Health to either commence operations immediately or hand over management to the community, saying, “Had the hospital been operational, such incidents would not have occurred.”
Ogbomoso North Local Government Chairman, Ogunlade Gbadegesin, echoed the sentiment, expressing disappointment over UCH’s unfulfilled promises.
“Numerous valuable medical items have been stolen, and others are in jeopardy. We will hire security personnel to protect what is left until the hospital is finally operational,” he stated, recalling that a UCH management visit in September 2024 promised operations would start in October, a pledge that never materialized.
Similarly, Ademola Olawale, an aide to the former minister, added that he has repeatedly urged UCH to begin operations, but the institution continued to provide excuses and unfulfilled commitments.
