The healthcare value chain in Nigeria has received shot in the arm with the official commissioning in Lekki, Lagos of Caring Habitat, the first post-hospital care facility in Nigeria for patients who are “too sick to go home but too well to remain in the hospital.”

At a well-attended opening event on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the Chief Medical Director for Caring Habitat, Dr. Olaolu Odemuyiwa, said the facility is a halfway house, a bridge between an acute center (hospital) and a home.

“Our mission is to transition individuals from dependent to independent living in the shortest possible time,” declared Dr. Odemuyiwa.

He said that the facility will help free hospital beds to admit more patients in critical health conditions while Caring Habitat takes over to ensure the patient returns to full recovery and returns to an independent life.

He therefore called on state governments to establish more rehabilitation hospitals within their states while the Federal government should establish at least one in each geopolitical zone so that more people can be nurtured back to productive independent live after chronic illness.

According to the Caring Habitat Chief Medical Director, the facility is a 40-room purpose-built state-of-the-art Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre strategically located in a serene and secured area in Metro Homes Estate, Abraham Adesanya, Lagos.

Their services include physical rehabilitation for stroke, catastrophic illness, post-operative recovery, frailty, debility, and arthritis.

“We also manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, dementia, among other services,” said Odemuyiwa who returned to Nigeria to set up Caring Habitat after 30 years of practice in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, Secretary to Ogun State Government and Special Guest of Honour at the event, said Caring Habitat came at a time when Nigerians are yearning for better health care services. 

He said the partnership between the government and the private sector in health will ensure that Nigeria has a very healthy and productive population able to drive the economy to prosperity.

Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Director-General, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, who was also a special guest at the event, urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate the good gesture of the Chief Medical Director of Caring Habitat and return home to help build Nigeria not only in the health sector but all other sectors that can help the country achieve inclusive growth and economic prosperity.

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Health, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, said that Lagos State is collaborating with the private sector healthcare facilities to reduce the burden of patients care on government hospitals which she said can cater for only 30% of patients in the state.

“The rest 60% patronize private hospitals, while 10% has other means of taking care of their health,” Mrs. Ogunyemi said.

She commended the management and staff of Caring Habitat saying the facility represents a significant stride towards bridging the gap in healthcare infrastructure and expertise not only in Lagos State but Nigeria.  

Highlights of the Open Day event was a guided tour of the facilities by guests.