Resident doctor consulting a patient
Patient receiving dental treatment at a free dental program at the Family Care Ikota Clinic
Nurses Station at the Family Care Ikota Clinic
Nurse giving an antenatal class to expectant mothers
Nurse dressing a patients wound
New mothers with babies delivered at the Family Care Ikota Clinic
Family Care Ikota Clinic and Pharmacy have been open for just over a year now and it has had a tremendous impact on the lives of the Ikota community as well as many others who have reached its doorstep. The clinic has undergone a great deal, as it has continued to expand in many ways and slowly become self sufficient. It is gradually reaching its targeted goals and is becoming well known to the surrounding areas for its many facilities, good standard, and high level of cleanliness. We have, through the help of generous sponsors, been able to hire additional staff to keep the clinic open 24 hours a day and handle emergencies and treatment.
At present we have two doctors on duty, two nurse/midwifes, two auxiliary nurses, one logistics manager, one secretary, and front desk assistant, as well as one logistical staff, one security, and a dental team that comes to the clinic every Thursday to perform dental treatment and check-ups. The clinic continues to grow in the number of patients and we apply for sponsorships for the underprivileged and for the mothers and children who have no one else to look after them.
Our ante-natal program has also expanded to around 28 mothers who come for weekly classes and can deliver their babies in our clinic. Scores of companies and individuals regularly donate many items such as diapers, baby formula, cleaning products, bathtubs and other items which we put together in a special package for each mother who delivers at the clinic, as a way of encouraging them and helping them in the numerous needs they have.
For 2007 the statistics are as follows:
- Patient Visits: 1610
- Deliveries: 16
- Dental Patients: 276
- Ante-natals: 163
In 2008 the patients are increasing daily.
We recently helped one woman, Mrs. Watta Veronica who is 32 years of age and has two children. She came to our clinic pregnant with her third child. As she had been having a few complications in her pregnancy, she started taking our ante-natal classes. Midway through her pregnancy she stopped coming, as she couldn’t continue them due to lack of funds. At that time, we had approached various companies and individuals to sponsor medical needs and medicine for individuals that were in dire straits and could not pay for the medical treatment they needed. She then applied for sponsorship for her ante-natal classes and delivery. Through the help of others, we approved her application and she was able to continue taking her classes and in the end delivered a healthy baby girl. She received a hamper filled with items for her and her family. She is extremely grateful for the classes and the safe delivery of her new child. She thanks all the sponsors who made it possible for her and her baby to be treated.
The clinic is also open to emergencies as was the case with one young man, who was rushed in from Lekki; he had gotten into a brawl and had several deep wounds on his arms from being cut with a glass bottle. The doctor and nurses took him in and performed a minor surgery to close the deep wounds along his arm, hands and fingers. The surgery took over two hours as our team worked on him tirelessly, making sure to stop the profuse bleeding and close up the wounds.
Another case took place when a ten-year-old girl was rushed to the clinic from the Lekki Expressway as she had been badly hurt when hit by a car. The bystander who brought her in thought she was dead, but brought her in anyway, as he was from our community and knew of the clinic. Our team of medical staff worked to save her life. She was semi-conscious and they were not sure the extent of the damage. By a miracle she was resuscitated and then treated for minor injuries and broken bones. She recovered amazingly and all treatment was donated through our sponsorship program.