OSUN: citizen’s health is my topmost priority – Oyetola

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reiterated the administration’s commitment to continue to prioritise the health of the people in the state, saying building a peaceful and prosperous state starts with good health.

He made this known on Monday, while inaugurating eight of the newly renovated Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state.

Similarly, former Health minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, also noted that the governor’s decision to construct, renovate and revitalised 332PHCs at a go, is unprecedented in the history of the country. He commended him for raising the bar of governance through the provision of quality service across all sectors.

The state government had last week announced that it will commence the inauguration of 100 newly-renovated PHCs. The project is in fulfilment of the governor’s electoral promises to construct, renovate and revitalise 332 PHCs one-per-ward across the state.

By Monday, the governor flagged off the inauguration, with PHC Sabo, Olorunda Local Government Area, PHC Odi-Olowo, Osogbo Local Government Area and PHC Adejuwon, Ede-North Local Government Area, being personally inaugurated by him, while PHC Odesan and PHC Fayemi Ikija, all in Ife-South Local Government Area, were inaugurated by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi.

Also, PHC Anwo, Irepodun Local Government Area and PHC Akinorun, Ifelodun Local Government Area and PHC Ifewara, Atakunmosa -West Local Government Area, were inaugurated by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Charles Akinola; Head of Service, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji in that order. In all, 25 of the PHCs are expected to be inaugurated between Monday and Wednesday.

Speaking at one of the inauguration ceremonies, Governor Oyetola noted that the state’s revitalisation initiative is a holistic programme that covers renovation of facilities, provision of modern equipment, supply of drugs, training and retraining of staff and employment of technology to power healthcare delivery for optimum results.

He appealed to the people to patronise the hospitals and put into good use, the facilities being put in place.

“Of the 332 health centres slated for renovation, rehabilitation, upgrading and revitalisation, 175 have been awarded and 100 have been completed while others are at varying advanced stages of completion. The inauguration of the completed health centres is being done on a batch-by-batch basis.

“The renovation and revitalisation of this health centre will signal the arrival of improved healthcare delivery and well-being in this community and its environs,” the governor said.

On his part, Adewole said “With what I have read and seen myself, I can say it without equivocation that no governor has done what Osun had done particularly in the health sector.

“As much as I am glad at the giant strides being recorded by the Oyetola- led government, I am appealing to the state not to relent in its efforts to take the state to enviable heights.

“I am appealing to the people of the state to patronise the facilities and put them into good use”.

Earlier, the Supervisor for Works, Remi Omowaye, lauded the efforts of the state government at ensuring that every citizen has access to quality, affordable and adequate health facilities in the state.

Omowaye who is a member of the State Health Revitalisation Committee, appealed to the staff and residents of the community to complement the government’s efforts by putting the facilities into good use.

The Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi, commended the administration for putting in the front burner, the general well-being and health of the citizens of the state.

He described the completion and inauguration of the 100 PHCs across the state as a confirmation of the administration’s commitment to rapidly improve Primary Health Care Service delivery in the state.

“With this improvement in the physical infrastructure, equipping of the PHCs, purchase of operational vehicles, provision of drugs worth several millions of naira and motivation of the health personnel, the decay often seen in health sector are gradually becoming a thing of the past.

“Your commitment to health sector will no doubt result in improved maternal and child services; leading to rapid reduction in the rate of both maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality in the state,” Fabiyi added.