Investigations
SPECIAL REPORT: Despite multiple funds released, UCH glaucoma centre remains abandoned as patients struggle for eye care
The clock strikes 12 p.m. at the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Eye clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. Patients are seen waiting to see the ophthalmologists.
One of the patients, Adedeji Julianah has her face contorted in anger and frustration as she occasionally questions why her name has not been called yet. It’s been three hours since she journeyed down from Eruwa, a town 56 kilometres from the hospital.
“I have been having issues with my sight being blurry and red mostly,” she said. “I was told it is glaucoma in 2018 and I have been using Awojobi hospital Eruwa. They then referred me to Our Lady Catholic Hospital in Iseyin before I was referred here early this year. I always spend the whole day whenever it is my appointment day,” she added.
Like Mrs Adedeji, many other patients seated in the outpatient’s waiting area of the eye clinic murmur complaints occasionally as the wait to see a doctor dragged on. The situation might have been different if the multimillion-naira glaucoma centre allocated to the hospital had been completed and glaucoma patients do not have to come to the eye clinic where other patients with eye-related ailments use.
The glaucoma centre, which was meant to relieve the eye clinic’s overwhelming patient load, has remained abandoned despite multiple budgetary allocations
Glaucoma is the second commonest cause of blindness worldwide after cataract and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In Nigeria, over one million people are estimated to be blind (0.78 % of the population), with 16.3 % attributed to glaucoma. Glaucoma is the “silent thief sight” because it remains asymptomatic mainly throughout a significant part of the natural course of the disease, and patients only begin noticing symptoms at an advanced stage.
Globally, glaucoma is responsible for about 11% of irreversible visual loss in adults 50 years or older.
In Nigeria, the prevalence of glaucoma is 5%, and 94% of people with glaucoma are either undiagnosed or untreated. Surgical treatment is often not accepted or fails to control progression, early detection of glaucoma, and consistent follow up care which requires for patients to often visit the hospital are some of the ways to manage the disease.
Allocations
The glaucoma centre was nominated in 2017 as a Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) for the hospital by Abiodun Dada Awoleye, the representative of Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. The project was nominated in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with N14 million naira approved for it in 2017, N5 million naira in 2018 and N35 million for its completion in 2019.
A report by UDEME in 2020 revealed that the project is yet to be completed- the situation remains the same. In the 2020 report, Hon Abiodun Awoleye confirmed that all the funds had been approved and released.
In 2022, N78,479,190 was allocated for the completion and furnishing of the glaucoma centre. However, during a recent visit, it was discovered that the project has not changed from what it was in 2020, and has even become unrecognizable. Yet, the centre, located beside the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre, is a ghost of its intended self—abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and unrecognisable as a medical facility.
The building remains in the decking stage as no work is yet to commenced on the first floor. The plastered walls are beginning to wear green elements all over. Grasses are grown on the tiled floors inside the building while the windows remain in shape. An abandoned water storage tank lies in the little bush in the building’s surrounding.
Abandoned project causing pains
The completion of the glaucoma centre would have eased patient’s access to treatment, however, when this reporter visited the location thrice this year, the most recent being late September, 2024, no development was seen as weeds prevented access.
A walk through the structure reveals its state of disrepair. The ground floor remains in the decking stage, with no visible progress from its initial construction phase. Windows have been installed, but the interior is damp, dirty, and seemingly untouched for years. Weeds have overtaken the building blocking access points and leaving a stark contrast to the millions spent on its development.
For patients like Mrs Adedeji, the glaucoma centre’s completion would have meant easier access to specialized care and less strain on her health.
At her age, the long waiting times and frequent hospital visits, often extending past six hours, take a physical and mental toll. Mrs Adedeji, in her 60s according to her daughter who accompanied her lamented how the waiting process is stressful and she expressed her wishes for an easier process when she comes for her appointment.
For Olatunji Lawal, a farmer, the stress he has gone through since the beginning of his treatment is more than the money he has spent.
“I started my treatment last year, I’m based in Abeokuta and I used to come every week before my appointment is now every eight days and sometimes it is every six days,” he said, showing this reporter his blue card containing his medical appointment since last year.
“I moved to Ibadan to be staying with my friend in Akinyele when the stress coupled with transport fare is too much.
“I leave home by 6a.m. whenever it is my appointment day and as you can see it’s after 2pm now and I’m just seeing the doctor. I have become used to it since they said I have to come and be punctual with my appointments to save my sight, I have become accustomed to the waiting, or what do we do?,” the septuagenarian asked rhetorically.
Another patient, Toyin Mariam, said she has been particularly stressed today because the nurse at the counter said she is yet to drop her card.
Mrs Mariam had recently undergone cataract surgery and was returning for a post-operative check-up. Removing her dark glasses, she shows the reporter the condition of her eyes. “I just want to get through today. The waiting is exhausting, but I know there are so many others here with different problems.”
After several attempts to reach the University College Hospital for enquiries on the state of the centre, this reporter was able to reach Enitan Obafunmilayo, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO). When asked about the glaucoma centre, she replied that she will get back as soon as she is done with a meeting. When she later got back, she responded that her office did not have “information on that project.”
When asked which department or official can be contacted for information on the project, she responded: “I don’t know. I can find out and get back to you, but not today.” Further calls were unanswered till the time of filing this report.
While speaking to UDEME in 2020, Abiodun Awoleye, the lawmaker who facilitated the project expressed disappointment that the project was yet to be completed.
“So what I can say now is that to the best of my knowledge all the money must have been with UCH by now but why they have not completed it by now is what I cannot say. You know I am not the member representing that constituency anymore,” he had said.
The earlier report on the project revealed that Trapetti Engineering and Construction Company Limited was awarded the contract. However, efforts to reach the company proved abortive as contact details about the company could not be obtained.
Olaide Adewale Akinremi, the lawmaker representing the constituency who succeeded Abiodun Awoleye in 2019 died after a brief illness in July this year and the constituency currently does not have a representative who can give an update on the 2022 allocation.
One of the medical staff who prefers not to be named said the completion of the glaucoma centre will be of utmost importance and benefits to the people because management of the glaucoma disease is tasking.
“Unlike eye diseases like cataract, which can be operated on and if there are no complications, the patient will be discharged after six months. The treatment of glaucoma continues as long as the patient lives. The implications means patient’s frequent visits to the clinic which explains why a lot of patients are at the eye centre,” the medical staff said.
By: Olanshile Ogunrinu
This story was supported with funding from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
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