Monarch, others hail Ojodu LCDA chairman over ongoing free surgeries for 300 children
The Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. David Segun Odunmbaku, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accessible healthcare with the launch of a five day free paediatric surgical outreach targeting 300 children aged zero to 18 years.
Odunmbaku said the initiative was designed to ease the financial burden on families whose children require surgical treatment but cannot afford the cost.
He spoke at the launch of the programme at General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos. The outreach is themed “Bringing Hope and Healing to Our Children.”
“For any parent, having a child who needs surgery brings anxiety, worry and financial exhaustion. When the cost of treatment is beyond the family’s means, that burden becomes even heavier,” he said.
The chairman explained that the programme would provide free specialised surgical procedures for children in need. He said the council partnered with General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, because some of the required procedures were beyond the capacity of its existing surgical programme.
He stressed that the initiative reflected his administration’s belief that healthcare should be accessible to residents, especially vulnerable families.
The surgical cases to be handled include breast lumps, epigastric hernia, umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia, undescended testis and soft tissue pathologies.
Odunmbaku urged parents and guardians to bring forward children who require screening and treatment. He also emphasised the importance of postoperative care, urging families to follow medical advice and attend scheduled appointments.
He said the council had continued to invest in healthcare through the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres, the employment of medical personnel and the provision of ambulances and medical equipment.
According to him, the administration had supported more than 1,260 minor surgical operations, organised free medical missions and provided health insurance support for over 1,000 residents.
He added that the council was planning further healthcare infrastructure projects to improve access to medical services.
The chairman expressed appreciation to the medical teams and partner organisations for supporting the outreach. He said the collaboration showed what government, healthcare institutions, faith based organisations and charitable bodies could achieve by working together.
Hospital MD commends Odunmbaku’s commitment
The Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, Dr. Mrs. Oluyemi Taiwo, commended Odunmbaku for sponsoring the initiative.
She described the outreach as a demonstration of compassionate leadership and a commitment to children’s health.
“Leadership is best demonstrated by how well we care for our most vulnerable. Today, you have once again proven that our children’s well being is at the heart of your administration,” Taiwo said.
She thanked the chairman for bringing specialised surgical services closer to families who might otherwise struggle to afford them.
“Thank you, Chairman Sir, for turning commitment into real help for families who could not afford such procedures. Your kindness and vision will be remembered for years to come,” she added.
Taiwo also praised the visiting surgeons and other medical personnel for contributing their expertise to the programme.
She said their participation would not only help children receive treatment but also strengthen the skills of healthcare workers at the hospital.
The hospital chief urged parents and guardians not to conceal children with surgical conditions because of financial constraints, fear or stigma.
She encouraged residents to spread information about the programme so that eligible children could benefit from the free services.
“Do not hide any child with any surgical condition at home for fear, stigma or lack of funds. Bring them forward for screening and treatment while these renowned experts are here,” she said.
Surgeon praises chairman for supporting the outreach
Consultant paediatric surgeon Dr. Timothy Adeyinka, who joined the outreach with other medical professionals from the diaspora, also praised Odunmbaku for supporting the initiative.
Adeyinka thanked the chairman and the hospital management for their reception and cooperation. He also acknowledged the role of Life Care Development Foundation in coordinating logistics for the programme.
He described the chairman’s support as a valuable contribution to improving healthcare access for children.
“I really appreciate you. What you are doing today, posterity will talk about you,” Adeyinka said.
The surgeon explained that the outreach was part of a wider effort to provide free surgical treatment to children who might otherwise remain untreated because of financial difficulties.
He recalled previous free surgical programmes and said the intervention at Ifako Ijaiye would help relieve children of avoidable suffering.
Adeyinka also praised the cooperation between Odunmbaku and the hospital’s management.
He urged the government and medical professionals to sustain such partnerships, noting that public authorities could not address every healthcare challenge without support from other stakeholders.
“Government cannot do everything. So, that is where we come in,” he said, pledging further collaboration with the council.
Monarch says he’s not surprised
The Alaguda of Aguda , Oba Hakeem Agbaosi, said the chairman’s commitment to helping the less privileged did not come as a surprise to him, noting that he had inherited the trait from his father, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, a prominent cleric, politician and philanthropist.
Describing the chairman as a man of action, the monarch said, “That’s him. Anything he wants to do, he does. He is talk and do.”
Others shower praises to the chairman
The Medical Officer of Health, Ojodu LCDA, Dr. Tanimowo Ishola, also commended the chairman for providing the political support needed to implement the programme.
Ishola described Odunmbaku as a leader committed to turning healthcare plans into practical interventions.
“I also want to thank the executive chairman for his political will. The chairman has political will; he wants things to happen,” he said.
He disclosed that the council had previously supported more than 1,000 free surgical procedures without charging beneficiaries.
Ishola also acknowledged the commitment of parents who arrived early at the hospital to register their children for the outreach.
He expressed hope that the programme would provide relief to families and improve access to treatment for children with surgical conditions.
Beneficiaries also praised the chairman for the initiative. One of them, Mrs Motunrayo, recalled how her child was diagnosed with a medical condition requiring surgery, with the procedure estimated to cost about N400,000.
She said she and her family could not afford the cost until the Ojodu LCDA’s intervention came to their aid, easing the financial burden and helping her child access the needed medical care.
Others who showered praises on the chairman included Alhaja Stella Kokumo, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ikeja Federal Constituency.
The five day outreach is sponsored by Ojodu LCDA in partnership with General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, Life Care Development Foundation, City of God Cathedral, Christ Ambassadors Soaring Ministries International, Sutorial Hospital/Clinic and Children’s Heritage Outreach UK.
The initiative brings together government representatives, hospital personnel, visiting specialists and charitable organisations to provide free surgical interventions for children.
Odunmbaku reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services and expanding partnerships that respond to residents’ needs.
He also thanked Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu for supporting local government development and healthcare delivery in the state.
The chairman urged parents to remain involved throughout their children’s treatment and recovery.
He stressed that the programme’s objective extended beyond surgery to ensuring that children received appropriate follow up care.
The organisers urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the outreach and ensure that children requiring surgical attention were presented for medical assessment.
