Towards solving the medical shortfalls being experienced in Nigerian Navy barracks, the President of the Naval Officer’s Wives Association (NOWA), Hajia Aisha Nana Gambo has commissioned the Nigerian Navy SickBay at Okokomaiko in Lagos, attributing the provision of resources for the project to the support of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo despite competing demands/limited resources
The SickBay which is multi-purpose, contains facilities for Officers, Children and Maternity Wards.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony which elicited joy and commendations from naval personnel and family members who have had to experience some discomfort in assessing such medical facilities, the NOWA President said, “Given the perennial shortage of operational healthcare Centres in Nigeria, this commissioning ceremony is a major milestone not only to the Nigerian Navy, but to the Nation in general”.
She said, “I am indeed delighted to be in your midst this morning as the Special Guest of Honour for the Commissioning Ceremony of the Officer’s, Children’s and Maternity wards extension of the Nigerian Navy Sickbay, Okokomaiko.
“Being healthy is one of the basic necessities of human existence. The great Mahatma Gandhi once said “Health is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”.
“Without good health, the Nigerian Navy would not be able to act upon the mandate. Which is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Hence, the commitment to provide better health care for its personnel by building Hospitals and sickbays.
“As a home-keeper and mother, I identify with this maxim. Conscious of this fact, I commend the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in the provision of adequate and appropriate medical facilities for naval families and members of the immediate communities.
“I observe with deep satisfaction that despite competing demands on limited resources, the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (Admiralty Medal) my ever supportive husband, has made concrete efforts at addressing the medical challenges in the Service.
“What we are witnessing today is a reflection of these efforts”.
“It is therefore a privilege for me to have commissioned these wards to the Glory of Almighty Allah and the progress of the Nigerian Navy and the general public.
“It is anticipated that this milestone will further solve the medical shortfalls being experienced in the Nigerian Navy barracks.
While commending the efforts of the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command (Rear Admiral YB Wambai) and all the personnel who have directly or indirectly contributed to the actualization of this project, Hajia Aisha Gambo urged “those charged with the maintenance and administration of the facility, to kindly ensure this facility is judiciously and efficiently used to fulfill its objective without bias or favoritism”.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral YB Wambai noted that the Sickbay’s primary mandate is to ensure that personnel and their families’ health care needs are adequately catered for even as he commended NOWA’s efforts in ensuring realization of the project
His words, “It is our dream and desire to provide the best health care services possible in the country and abroad. I am pleased to welcome you (NOWA President) to the Nigerian Navy Sickbay Okokomaiko. I am also pleased to be part of the ceremony to commission a remodelled building comprising officers’ ward, children’s ward and maternity extension.
“This seems like a tall dream, considering the challenges the Sickbay faces in manpower, equipment and resources, but with God, all things are achievable.
“We know the Naval Authorities cannot do or provide everything based on the current realities on ground, consequently, the hospital greatly benefits from generous gifts by well-meaning groups and individuals in itching towards her goal.
“One group which has constantly shown they mean well for the NN Medical facilities and want them to be better than it is by contributing their quota is the Naval Officers’ Wives Association.
Recalling that the President Naval Officers’ Wives Association visited the Sickbay in 2021 for her familiarization tour, the FOC said, “During the tour she promised to donate some medical equipment required for an upgrade of NNSB Okokomaiko.
“This was aimed at improving the quality of care rendered at the Sickbay. In view of this, the NOWA President graciously donated 4 beds/mattresses, 4 bedside lockers, 2 patient monitors, one resuscitaire, 2 bedside fridges and 2 coloured television sets to the Sickbay in April 2022.
“These equipment have been installed in a newly acquired building. The building has also been renovated and remodeled to fit into the operations of officers’ ward, children’s ward and a maternity extension. I therefore, make bold to state that this is further testimony to the determination of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association to continuously improve on the healthcare needs of Nigerian Navy personnel and family.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commanding Officer, Navy Reference Hospital Ojo, on behalf of the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy SickBay Okokomaiko commended the National President of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association for completion of the SickBay project.
“We are indeed most delighted that the National President of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association found it very auspicious to personally commission this project at Nigerian Navy Sickbay Okokomaiko. Madam, we deeply appreciate this kind gesture, he said.
“In pursuit of the provision of medical services for personnel, the Nigerian Navy has built several medical facilities in different locations across the country. But, as the Service continues to expand, the need for more social amenities and upgrade of some medical facilities also continue to persist” he added.
“Hence , efforts are being constantly made to meet this demand within the limits of available resources. It is worthy of note to state that the Naval Officers’ Wives Association has assisted in this regards by constantly donating some medical equipment to achieve these set objectives.”
