ABEOKUTA- The Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun state, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on energy in all medical institutions across the country
Musa-Olomu lamented the rising cost of diesel in the country which has hampered the daily running of medical facilities in the country.
The Medical Director disclosed this Thursday, at a Medical Outreach, organised for journalists in Ogun state by the hospital.
Musa-Olomu lamented that the high cost of diesel which jumped from N600 to N730 per litre recently is threatening the survival of the medical institution, saying that FMC spends N44million monthly on diesel to power its generators.
“Government needs to declare a state-of-emergency on energy in tertiary institutions if they want us to carry on, it is just very necessary.
“In FMC, Abeokuta, we use N5million worth of diesel every two weeks that comes that to N10million in a month, but suddenly the thing (diesel) jumped to N22million (every two weeks) and come to N44million in a month. So, how are we going to cope?.
“But, if the Federal government comes to our aid by declaring a state-of-emergency in the energy sector and probably they give us solar panels of about 1,000MW as they have given some other tertiary institutions, it will help us a lot and the charges on the innocent patients will be reduced and people will be ready to access health care”, he said.
Speaking on the importance of the medical outreach, Musa-Olomu said, there is need for journalists to always check their health status.
He advised journalists to always cultivate a healthy life style and shun alcohol and cigarette consumption.
“We know from our experience over the years that quite a lost of people can get lost in their professions and forget to take care of themselves, especially journalists.
“Journalists are always searching for news and with that enthusiasm, they get lost in their profession and forget to check their health and that is why we are organising this outreach to call their attention to it, that it is necessary that to take time check their heath”, he added.
