TOS Funerals @ 16: ‘Mission to Impact Humanity On Course’
From a relatively unknown local undertaker to a renowned International Disaster Management Consultant and Chief Embalmer, Taiwo Ajibade Ogunsola Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, TOS Funerals Limited, is making cutting edge success of mortuary business as TOS’s mission to impact humanity is continuously on course.
Ogunsola who spoke to our Correspondent at the donation and handing over of 40 automatic, beds and mattresses as well as beddings to Medical Emergency Unit of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) is elated that giving back to humanity is selfless, rewarding and fulfilling.
TOS Funerals Celebrate 15yrs Caring for the Dead
According to her, “Last year, 18 of such beds were donated to the Surgical Emergency Department and we made a commitment to continue to support the hospital in providing for its need.
“It’s not unto us at all I must say, but to the Glory of God because, last year, after the first donation, I was seriously sick. I then made a covenant with God, and I made a covenant that if I survive, will do more.
“This year against all challenges from the Customs import duties which we were not given waivers and huge tax to Standards Organisations of Nigeria (SON-CAP), we are still able to donate 40 automatic hospital beds, 400 bed sheets to LASUTH, Gbagada and Mainland hospitals including pillows and cases and by God’s grace we shall continue to do more as long as we live”.
Speaking at the occasion, State Commissioner of Health, Professor Akin Abayomi who was represented by Director Family Health Services, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba described the gesture by Olalekan Ogunsola Foundation and TOS Funerals Limited as an example of private partnership support to compliment government’s commitment to improve health outcomes and quality of healthcare of residents of Lagos and humanity.
According Zamba, “The gift will go a long way to make our patients more comfortable and give a better ambience within the facility where they are receiving care. The type of bed patients sleeps on while recuperating certainly contribute to the quality of care and in achieving better outcomes”.
The Commissioner assured that all donations made by private individuals and corporate organisations to support government of the state shall be well maintained.
“Government already has an initiative in form of what we call Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency (LASIMA) and as one of its mandates, it is responsible for maintenance of facilities within the health sector. LASUTH is already on the priority list for LASIMA and officials have visited the facility for assessment and to get us facility managers who would be responsible for both clinical and non-clinical facilities in this hospital” Abayomi assured.
Also commending the gesture of the Foundation, Chief Medical Director, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo that the presence of TOS Funerals Limited in LASUTH for 16 years has added more value to the quality and rating of the hospital.
“TOS is as old as LASUTH which started in 2001 and TOS in 2002/2003 when she came with the concept of new Mortuary service. At that time, the odour from the old mortuary could be perceived from as far as old Police College. But she came and built an ultra-modern morgue which changed the story of LASUTH for the better”, said Fabamwo.
The CMD who said that LASUTH is already in a phase of transformation and facelift would no doubt do very well with the donation as humanity will definitely be affected.
According to Fabamwo, “The gift is timely and very well welcome at such a time we are giving LASUTH a new image and to make the centre function better. The gift would no doubt add more value to the hospital”
In it’s sixteen years, TOS Funerals Limited has successfully been involved in managing quite a number of disasters and emergency projects for Lagos State including the 2002 Ikeja Military Cantonment blast, Bellview Airline Crash, 2005, Sosoliso Airline crash 2005, Dana Air crash 2012, Associated Airlines crash, 2013, West african Ebola virus outbreak 2014, Lagos Synagogue collapse 2014 and the recent Ethiopian Airline crash 2019.
TOs is also responsible for the installation and management of the State’s crematorium at the Mainland General Hospital, supervision of construction and installation of five government mortuaries in Lagos and Ogun State’s Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital as well as Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital.
