Senator Echocho’s determination sees establishment of Orthopaedic Hospital in Dekina passes Senate 2nd Reading

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By Gabriel Agbonika, Abuja

The determination and eagerness of Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District of Kogi State, to ensure the successful establishment of an orthopaedic hospital in Dekina town of the State, has gone through the legislative hurdle process of second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.
This significant legislative achievement by Senator Echocho was made possible on the floor of Senate through encouraging support given to the bill by his colleagues in the upper chamber.

Now, there’s high hope that the bill, which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Healthcare, will receive greater attention when it is returned in about four weeks time.
Presenting the general principles of the bill before his colleagues on the floor of the Senate, Senator Echocho said that the establishment of the medical facility would facilitate access to orthopaedic health care services, provide facilities for diagnosis, curative, promotive and rehabilitative services in orthopaedic treatment.
The lawmaker explained that the proposed orthopaedic hospital would be placed under the control of the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board to provide specialized orthopaedic treatment and related medical services.
He called for the support of Senators and expeditious legislative treatment of the bill given its strategic importance to the people of the District and beyond especially as the bill was first read in the hallowed chamber since on 13th of February, 2025.
In his words,“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, Kogi East Senatorial District where the hospital is proposed to be sited, comprises nine (9) Local Government Areas: Ankpa, Basa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro, and Omala, with a population of over 2,000,000.”
He further pointed out that Kogi East Senatorial District, like others in the North Central geopolitical zone, is primarily an agrarian economy. “The nature of the occupation of the people entails orthopaedic hazards, especially as it relates to palm fruits harvests, forestry, and similar activities.”

He emphasized that research published in Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma (2024), “reported that between 2019 and 2024, not less than 10,000 farmers in Kogi State were involved in farm-related hazards, leading to severe bone crises with 98% being treated by traditional bone setters.”
The lawmaker lamented that the non-existent of such strategic facility in the zone has provided unnecessary opportunities to the local ‘bonesetters’ which unfortunately led to rise in casualties, arguing that with the establishing of orthopaedic facility in the area, professional treatment of bone related ailments would be greatly improved and appreciated.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the need for the establishment of the Orthopaedic Hospital Dekina, is amplified by the challenges and complications associated with traditional bone setting.
“Traditional bonesetters’ lack of knowledge of anatomy, physiology, or radiography has brought about limb and life-threatening complications. Known extreme complications associated with traditional bone setting include acute compartment syndrome, tetanus, deformities, chronic osteomyelitis, gangrene, amputation, and death.”

He added that other extreme complications associated with traditional bone setting include acute compartment syndrome, tetanus, deformities, chronic osteomyelitis, gangrene, amputation, and death. “Other complications include mal-union and non-union of fractures, soft tissue infections, chronic unreduced joint dislocations, joint stiffness and ankylosis, septic arthritis, pressures sores and blisters, iatrogenic fractures and other injuries, leaving most affected patients who are young and in their productive years disabled at a very young age.”

Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Anthony Okorie Ani in his contribution commended Kogi Senator for his foresight on the bill stressing that orthopaedic hospital would be of immense benefit to the people of the zone and the adjoining states.

He said, the research carried out by the sponsor of the bill, Senator Echocho has revealed an alarming rate of bone diseases, adding that the nearby orthopaedic hospital was that of Enugu which has been existing for ages.
He urged his colleagues to support the bill for it to be passed for the next stage so that it could see the light of the day.

In his closing remark, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, commended the sponsor of the bill, saying that “he always sponsor bills that improves the welfare of his constituents”.
After putting the bill to voice vote, it was passed and referred to Senate Committee on Tertiary Healthcare for further legislative process before it is returned to the plenary in four weeks.