Seyi Tinubu launches initiative to support indigent patients in UCH

• Says access to healthcare is right, not privilege
• Awards scholarship to outstanding graduating student
• UCH CMD lauds initiative, promises efficient use

Son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu, through his child and maternal health care intervention initiative, yesterday, commissioned a drug bank for indigent patients at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The initiative aims to provide free medicines and delivery materials to indigent patients in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics Departments in UCH. Seyi Tinubu, who was represented by Ojeje Onimisi, said that access to healthcare is a right and not a privilege. He said that the drug bank represented more than just a collection of medicines but a commitment to dignity and a fundamental human right to healthcare.

National Coordinator of Seyi Tinubu Child and Maternal Healthcare Initiative, Dr Ayodele Cole Benson, said the programme would be cascaded down to general hospitals and primary healthcare centres after the first phase, and a donation of point of care ultrasound equipment and new-born screening programmes for early diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.

Benson said that Seyi Tinubu chose UCH as one of the early beneficiaries of the project because of the outstanding work being done at UCH as a premier teaching hospital in Nigeria.

He said Seyi Tinubu had taken the challenge headlong to support indigent patients who may not be able to afford hospital bills with this revolving scheme for free drugs and free materials for safe delivery.

Meanwhile, Dr Ifeoma Azuka Ude was given a scholarship grant of N1,000,000 for the completion of her fellowship programme for being the best graduating student of Paediatrics Department.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UCH, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, who was represented by the hospital’s Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council (CMAC), Prof. Abiodun Adeoye, lauded the initiative, saying that the hospital would run the programme effectively and efficiently.