An organisation founded by Mr. Seyi Tinubu, a son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu Maternal, and Child Health Intervention, is targeting to alleviate the financial hardship of medication of over 10,000 indigent patients across 60 tertiary health institutions in the country.
Seyi Tinubu and the National Coordinator of Seyi Tinubu Maternal and Child Healthcare Intervention Scheme, Dr. Ayodele Cole Benson, disclosed this while speaking during the official commissioning of the drug bank for Indigent Patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Paediatrics Pharmacy Units at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
They stated that the initiative is a revolving scheme, adding that UCH would be the fourth beneficiary.
Represented by Pharmacist Ojeje Onimisi, Seyi Tinubu said access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
He said the drug bank represented more than just a collection of medicines but a commitment to dignity and a fundamental human right to healthcare.
“As we gather here, I am reminded of the countless individuals who struggle to access life-saving medications. The burden of illness is already overwhelming; the added weight of financial hardship can be crushing,” he said.
“This drug bank represents more than just a collection of medicines; it represents a commitment to dignity, to equality, and to the fundamental human right to healthcare.
“To the indigent patients who will benefit from this initiative, I want to assure you that you are seen, you are heard, and you are valued. Your health, your well-being, and your life matter.
“This drug bank is a testament to the power of community, of partnership, and of collective action. I urge everyone to continue supporting initiatives that bridge the healthcare gap.
“Let us remember that access to healthcare is not a privilege, but a right. Let us strive to create a world where no one suffers due to lack of resources.”
Dr. Benson said Seyi Tinubu had chosen 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.
The national coordinator said: “The Goal of Mr Seyi Tinubu in this Maternal and Child Health Intervention Scheme is to attain and possibly surpass the SDG Goal 3 in Nigeria, on Maternal and Infant Mortality which targets to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by year 2030 while at the same time frame, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with Nigeria aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.”
