Chevron, Hansen’s Disease Centre partner on TB diagnosis, treatment

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has partnered with Hansen’s Disease Centre Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in the treatment of tuberculosis with the donation of fully-equipped chest clinic.

The Chest Clinic at Hansen’s Disease Centre is one of the 20 fully equipped chest clinics and TB referral centers donated to health institutions across the country by the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and the Agbami co-ventures.

The parties to the Agbami unit operations are Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited (A Chevron Company); Famfa Oil Limited, Statoil Nigeria Limited; Petroleum Brasileiro Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Chief Medical Officer of Hansen’s Disease Centre, Dr. Festus O. Soyinka, told The Guardian: “This is a state Referral Centre. We don’t only treat tuberculosis here; it is a referral centre for leprosy and Buruli ulcer. So this is a state referral centre for tuberculosis, Buruli, and leprosy control in the state. And also, we coordinate the affairs of the state together with Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DRT).”

Soyinka who was represented by the Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Adebola Iseoluwa-Adeloku, said: “Because the gesture from Agbami Partners has enabled the clinic to be able to attend to more patients because of the Gene Expert Machine that was supplied to us by them, and which has added a plus in our work here. This has really helped because we are no longer using ordinary microscope again, we now have the machine, which was donated to us alongside the new building.

“The Gene Expert Machine is a machine used to diagnose faster patients that live with TB and Human Immune Virus (HIV). It quickly picks the micro-bacterium and makes the management of the ailment easier.

“The other ones are the building which is a 10-bed ward, five for males and five for the females. Even though we had where we used to operate from, the construction of this new structure plays a huge and significant role in the health of the patients. The serenity of the place alone can make an ill patient to get better.

“With the Gene Expert Machine donated to us, this clinic has taken a strategic position in management of TB in the state. Before, it used to be only this clinic that has the machine and all the patients in the state travel down here to make use of it. But now, other Non-Governmental Organisations have donated another two to other medical centres in the state.”

On the challenges faced by the Centre, Adebola said the main challenge they have is manpower. She further explained: “Like now, the ward is supposed to be admitting patients but we don’t have enough manpower. Then, our doctor here is the State Control Officer. He combines both jobs together and this doesn’t give him that much room to have a closer relationship with the patients. I think we should have a doctor resident in this centre to able to cater well for the patients.

“Also, we have only two nurses here and there is no two of them can run shift; so we are doing only permanent morning.