The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) Global Resource Initiative has petitioned the management of Shomolu General Hospital, Lagos, through the office of the Medical Director, requesting improvements in service delivery to poor patients. The group also demanded transparency and accountability from the hospital’s Welfare Department regarding the N3 million monthly welfare support provided by the office of the Chairman of Somolu Local Government. The letter, titled, “Disappointment in the welfare department of Shomolu General Hospital due to poor utilisation of monthly health care support by Somolu Local Government and lack of transparency and accountability,” was also copied to the Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Lateef Ashimi, and the State Representative for Shomolu Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, H. Orekoya.
Parts of the letter read: “The monthly health/medical intervention scheme, as indicated on the form issued to poor and needy patients (Human Rights Monitors Solicited SLG Special Health/Medical Intervention Scheme), was initiated by the HURMA office several years ago. The initiative began as a genuine effort to assist poor residents across the Somolu community. Before the commencement of the programme, many poor residents frequently approached the HURMA office for assistance. Some were forced to beg on the streets and in religious centres to meet their healthcare needs. Reports were also received of patients being neglected or denied treatment at the general hospital due to the inability of their families to pay medical bills. The Special Health/Medical Intervention Scheme was designed to address these challenges.
The intervention form requires approval from three offices clearly stated on the document, comprising the Office of the Local Government Chairman, Somolu General Hospital Medical Director/Management Team and Office of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA). As earlier stated, the scheme was specifically created to support poor community members who cannot afford hospital services.
The forms are intended to provide completely free medical care to beneficiaries issued with them by any of the listed offices. Increase of monthly support from N2 million to N3 million. Due to increasing public demand and concerns over poor accountability within the welfare department, the Chairman, Lateef Ashimi, was encouraged by HURMA leadership to increase the monthly support from N2 million, as initiated by the former chairman, to N3 million. Used forms are expected to be collected monthly by the office of the Human Rights Monitors. However, the Welfare Department has reportedly failed to comply with this requirement. Furthermore, some poor patients referred to the hospital for free medical attention are now being directed to purchase drugs outside the hospital, forcing them back into situations where they must seek financial help from the public to meet hospital expenses. Reports from the Somolu Coordinator of HURMA, Monsur Akinremi, indicate that the matter has previously been discussed with the Welfare Department without any noticeable improvement. This complaint letter, therefore, represents the first formal step toward preventing any individual or office from undermining the legacy established by the immediate past Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Abdul-Hameed Salawu Dullar, whose initiative remains widely recognised. In addition to the provisions of the Patient’s Bill of Rights, which emphasises transparency and accountability, HURMA stated that the matter might attract prosecutorial attention if corrective actions were not taken promptly.
