By, Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

The Oyo State Government has met with the family of Farida Ismail, the pupil of Christ Church School 1, Mapo-Odinjo, who was allegedly rejected at Adeoyo Eye Clinic, Ring Road, with a promise to offer free health services.

The meeting, which was presided over by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetumobi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, had in attendance directors of the Ministry, the pupil’s father, family members, the Head Teacher of Christ Church School 1, and newsmen at the Ministry of Health, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

Recall that Farida Ismail raised concerns on Monday after she alleged that health workers at Adeoyo Eye Clinic, Ring Road, Ibadan, refused her access to the health facility despite her being in school uniform. The pupil was said to have been diagnozed with squint and other congenital-related syndromes.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Anifat Ibraheem stressed the state’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare to citizens. She noted that the state has the needed facilities across the 351 wards, promising to offer free eye treatment to Farida Ismail and her two siblings who also suffer hereditary eye defects.

“Like you know, our governor remains fatherly and proactive, and you can see all his unprecedented achievements across the state. This is the least of what we could do, and you know that health is one of the cardinal points of this administration.”

“He does not joke with it, and that is why the management team of health doctors, ably led by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, myself, the PS, Hospitals Management Board, together with the PS, Ministry of Health, have waded in and resolved that the child will get the best care in our hands. We do not want her to be taken care of by private facilities because everything she needs is within our purview,” she said.

“The eyes that I have seen… I could diagnoze that she was born with it. The congenital-related syndrome will be corrected in no distant time. By God’s grace, she will reach her dreamland,” she added.

The government also vowed to support Farida Ismail’s father, Mr. Ahmed Ismail, whose legs were amputated over fourteen years ago following a car crash on the Kano-Oyo Expressway. She said the government has contacted the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, the Oyo State Agency for Disabilities, and other foreign partners for possible economic and social empowerment for sustained life-changing mechanisms.

“We have contacted other government agencies and foreign partners on possible ways to support Mr. Ahmed Ismail, father of Farida. We can see that he has no legs and no job. The State Government is ready to assist even the two other siblings of young Farida,” she added.

While assuring continued investigation into the incident which involved the alleged rejection of patients at state facilities by some health workers, she issued a stern warning against negligence and urged expectant mothers to prioritize antenatal care to prevent future health complications.

In their separate reactions, Farida Ismail, her father, Mr. Ahmed Ismail, and the Head Teacher of Christ Church School 1, Mapo-Odinjo, Ibadan, Mr. Wasiu Olaniyi, expressed their appreciation at the prompt response of the Seyi Makinde-led government.

Earlier, the pupil’s father narrated his ordeal since car crash while he served a tanker driver with a private filling station over 14 years ago. He added that he has been suffering social rejection owing to his posture. He called on well meaning Nigerians to assist his nature and as well help to secure jobs for him as to take fuller responsibility of his family and growing children.

” Over this nature, my wife has developed a mental health challenge. We need help from high and low. We believe help will come to me. I support myself with wooden boxes on the land. Things are hard for my liking. At first, we appreciate the government of Oyo state for prompt response over my child. I know the decision will change the story of my family”, he said.

In his reaction, chief co-ordinator, Catch Them Young Initiative and founder of Iseya TV, Mrs. Ayodeni Aluko commended the prompt response of the government, urging well meaning Nigerians to use their wealth to support the less privileged for more inclusive society.

Meanwhile, health analysts have called on the government to activate its promises to the family of Farida Ismail, saying this will help to restore public confidence in state health facilities.