No security without sound health-IG

The Police College Ikeja, for a change, received nods and smiles of commendation recently, as the number one policeman in the country, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, with other dignitaries like Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos and a former IGP, Musiliu Smith, came round to commission the newly completed Ultra Modern and Renovated Hospitals. For long now, the Police College Ikeja had been receiving knocks over its dilapidated condition.  Before the renovation, many of the facilities were obsolete and the hostels not fit for human use. After paying a visit to the college to check out the state of things for himself, President Goodluck had ordered immediate renovation of the college.
Some of the ripple effects of the renovation were the hospitals. Abubakar who arrived the venue accompanied by some of his lieutenants, smiled softly as he looked at the structures, but his smile was tinged with sadness. But trying to shake the sadness off, he implored his guests to stand and observe a minute silence for slain policemen. The gloomy mood was finally shaken after Commissioner of Police, Medical, South-West Zone, Lagos State, Mrs. Chinwe Okafor who, with a team of other policemen and women supervised the building and renovations of the hospitals, took centre stage to tell how she and her team worked round the clock to make the completion of the hospitals a reality.
Abubakar, like other policemen at the event, described the building and renovations of the hospitals as ‘history being made.’ It was gathered that though several Inspectors general of Police had come and gone, but Abubakar‘s era appeared to be the one that fought and pushed for the building of befitting hospitals for his policemen and women. These hospitals it was gathered, had been replicated all over police commands across the federation and some area commands. Abubakar assured Nigerians that men and officers of the force would continue to give the best for the security of lives and properties in the country.
He also called on politicians and traditional rulers in troubled states in the country to complement what the police are doing, insisting that the police are doing their best. Abubakar said that the authority of the force would continue to put measures in place to ensure that men and officers of the force are fit for effective performance. “You cannot police the country without a sound and fit personnel. Of the first thing I promised the officers, was a comprehensive medical facility. I promised to improve on all facilities of the hospital nationwide,” Abubakar said.
Chinwe Okafor said that medical facilities had also been completed   in Ondo, Osun and Ogun States.  She however noted that though some personnel had been sent for training, the hospitals still needed more personnel to run them.
Okafor explained that just like any other hospital, he police hospitals will also invite specialists in cases of special situations. This however means, fund should be made available for payment of such medical experts, she said.
She revealed that already, plans were on to collaborate with Teaching Hospitals to that effect. Speaking at the occasion, Smith commended the Nigeria Police Force boss for, “ a good work” and urged officers and men of the force to do their best, describing the new medical facility as a “right step, in the right direction.”
His words: “The hospitals are very important welfare projects. Before, policemen used to be taken to Teaching and Private Hospitals, which usually charged a lot of money, but this time, such would now be a thing of the past. This is a step in the right direction. Due to stress of police job, there are always health problems, but these problems can be managed!”
Speaking further on the Ultra modern hospitals, Abubakar said: “Today, history is being made as we try to take care of the welfare of the police. You can’t talk of security without a police force that has a sound health. I thank all the medical personnel. We’re doing all these to make sure police officers are not left unattended to. Despite the challenges we’re facing, we’ll get there! We shall not fail this country! The best we can give to this country is our lives, which we’ve given to this country already! I promise to get more personnel for the hospitals. There is also need for promotion of the personnel. Motivation is a factor to acting efficiently!”
Commissioner of Police, Force Medical Officer, Adenike Abuwa urged all members of the Nigeria Police Force to make sure they immediately start visiting and using the hospitals.
Facilities available at the Police College Ikeja hospitals are; Dental clinic, ECG scans, Echo Cardiogram, Eye clinic, Laboratories, Physiotherapy, Emergency, Consulting rooms, Pharmacy, Wards, Antennal clinic, Labour room and Operating theatre.