The Management of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo is supporting a new clinic in the premises of the Palace of Ataoja of Osogbo to cater for emergency and modest clinical needs of the residents of the sprawling palace and it’s immediate neighbourhood.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, Ayodele Adeyemo notes that “This is as a result of the approval by the governor state of Osun, His excellency, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola that the palace clinic should be supported by the Teaching Hospital as one of the government’s ways of supporting the health of its people.”
According to the statement “It should be noted that Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has always taken as a serious priority the health and well being of the people of the state”.
Declaring the Centre open, the Chief Medical Director UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Prof Peter Babatunde Olaitan said the objective behind supporting such an Outreach Centre at the palace of Ataoja Osogbo is to administer First Aid treatments in case of any Medical emergency situation and routine medical health needs of the palace residents and workers, including chiefs who are always on constant visits to the place as well as many visitors both local and foreign who pay homage to Kabiyesi.
Olaitan disclosed that the new Medical Outreach is also to fulfill one of the corporate social responsibilities expected of Uniosun Teaching Hospital, an institution based in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
As a Community Outreach, Prof Olaitan said the Centre will also be handy for data collection on public health issues. He said arrangements have been concluded by the Uniosun Teaching Hospital to regularly send nurses, doctors and other ancillary health workers to the clinic to attend to both public and community health challenges.
According to Prof Olaitan, the Centre has been equipped with basic facilities required and with the commissioning, the services will commence forthwith.
The Chief Medical Director appreciated the passion of His Royal Majesty, *OBA JIMOH OYETUNJI OLANIPEKUN, LAARO II* at getting the project fulfilled which was borne out of Kabiyesi’s passion for a proper medical care for the Palace staff, his household and palace neighborhood.
In his response, the highly elated traditional ruler, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Ataoja of Osogbo appreciated God and the dynamic gesture of Prof Peter OLAITAN for making the establishment of a modest Medical Outreach Post in the Palace a reality. Oba Olanipekun disclosed that he spent his personal fund to refurbish the structure acomodating the Outreach Centre.
Kabiyesi said he felt fulfilled and excited that the commissioning of the Centre falls on the Osun festival, a world recognized cultural event.
Oba Olanipekun advised the people in the state to comply with Covid-19 advisories all the time.
Highlights of the brief ceremony included symbolic testing of the Ataoja, Oba Olanipekun and traditional performance by Palace drummers
Present at the occasion were prominent High Chiefs including Baba Kekere of Osogbo Land, Alhaji Sulaimon Olanipekun, The Ajaguna of Osogbo land , Chief Oparinde, Otun Iyalode of Osogbo land, Olori Adedoyin Olanipekun, and many others.
The newly established Medical Outreach located inside Ataoja Palace is the first of such to be so supported in any palace by UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo in Osun State.
