Alonge Seeks Public-Private Partnership as Oyo Opens First Bone Health Centre

Oyo State has opened its first Centre for Osteoporosis and Bone Health in Ibadan, a new specialist facility aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of bone-related illnesses, especially among older residents.

The centre was founded by Prof. Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. At the commissioning, Alonge said the project responds to a rising burden of osteoporosis and other bone conditions in Nigeria, where many cases are detected late.

Alonge, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the facility, said better outcomes will depend on stronger cooperation between government and private providers. He said public funding alone cannot carry the weight of Nigeria’s healthcare needs, and argued that private investment and wider health insurance coverage are necessary to expand access to care.

“No government budget alone can solve Nigeria’s health challenges. There must be integration of the private sector. Health insurance is critical; the rich help subsidize care for the poor,” he said.

He also called on political leaders and community stakeholders to support routine bone screening for elderly people in their constituencies. According to him, regular screening would prevent avoidable fractures and long-term disability, and would have more direct health value than many short-term interventions.

Alonge said one of the biggest problems is low public understanding of bone health. He explained that bone is not just a structural frame, but a living organ and the body’s largest store of minerals such as calcium. Bone is constantly renewed through a process of formation and resorption, he said, and ageing can upset that balance.

“People see bone merely as the framework of the body, but it is a vital organ and the largest store of minerals such as calcium. Bone formation and resorption occur continuously in a process known as remodelling. When this balance is disrupted, especially with ageing, it leads to bone weakness,” he said.

He cited data from a UCH study involving more than 2,000 patients, saying osteoporosis was uncommon below age 40 but rose significantly from age 50, with higher prevalence among people aged 60 and above. He added that post-menopausal women face elevated risk because lower estrogen levels reduce protection for bone formation.

Alonge said osteoporosis weakens bones and increases fracture risk, most often at the wrist, hip and spine. He noted that spinal fractures can gradually reduce height and contribute to stooped posture in older adults.

The new centre has a DEXA scan machine for bone mineral density testing, which Alonge described as the global gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis. He said treatment plans will be tailored to severity and patient capacity, with options including oral drugs, injections and intravenous therapies.

Beyond clinical treatment, he stressed prevention through nutrition and lifestyle. He highlighted calcium, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 as important nutrients for bone strength and calcium utilization, and said exercise in younger years helps build stronger long-term bone reserves.

“Prevention is better than a cure. The more bone stock you build in your younger years through proper nutrition and exercise, the better protected you are old,” he said.

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said the centre is a timely intervention for an ageing population that is increasingly vulnerable to bone fragility, hip fractures and disability. She said the facility will provide bone density assessment, counseling and guidance on prevention, supplements and practical lifestyle adjustments.

“This centre will help assess bone mineral density, provide counseling, and guide elderly persons on preventive measures, supplements, and lifestyle changes necessary to age gracefully,” she said.

Ajetunmobi said the state expects the facility to reduce fracture incidence among older residents and improve quality of life. Health experts at the event also warned that with rising life expectancy, osteoporosis could become a major public health and economic issue in Nigeria if early screening and treatment are not expanded.

The Ibadan launch marks a significant step in specialised geriatric care in Oyo State and may serve as a model for similar bone health services in other parts of the country.