Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to bringing back the good old days when the State was the haven of medical care services in the country and region.
This is as the Governor disclosed that the downturn in oil-generating revenue is forcing the need to look inwards to generate needed revenue to foster community development, which he said puts healthcare foremost.
Makinde made the disclosure while flagging off the Omituntun Free Medical Mission at Kisi, in the Oke-Ogun Zone of the State.
The flag-off, which was attended by top government functionaries, was held amidst fanfare and jamboree with many residents trooping out for medical attention.
The medical mission which kicked off in the Oyo North Senatorial District would include free surgical operations and other medical examinations.
The visibly elated Governor assured the people that the State healthcare system was undergoing a lot of reformation as part of the Government’s resolve to reposition the socio-economic landscape of the State.
He said, “The role of Government is to steer the overall healthcare development, designing healthcare policies and programmes, security, essential public health functions and regulating the delivery of healthcare services. This is expected to ensure that citizens of the State have a high standard of living while mortality and morbidity rates are kept low.”
Makinde explained that as a responsible government, his administration would not fold its arms and bury its head in the sand without acknowledging the magnitude of the effect of the threat on the public, saying that was the reason the State deemed it necessary to organize a health intervention programme which is free and accessible to the grassroots.
He noted, “However, I wish to state that this is not the remedy to the identified gaps in service delivery. It only serves as a stop-gap measure which will give the necessary time for other plans in the health sector to mature. Let me make it clear that it is the goal of this administration to leave a befitting legacy in the area of healthcare. “
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, in his remarks, said the Free Health Mission was introduced by the present administration with the aim to improve the quality of healthcare among the residents of Oyo State.
“The Free Medical Mission will entail free medical activities such as checking of blood pressure, HIV test with free drugs, checking of hernia, lipoma, sebaceous cyst, and breast lumps, while also enlightening the people on food hygiene, waste management, and good sanitation.”
The Commissioner disclosed that the Local Government areas that would benefit from the first phase of the Free Medical Mission include Irepo, Olorunsogo, Orelope, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo and Iwajowa. Others are Kajola, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, and Oriire Local Government Areas.
The Caretaker Chairman, Irepo Local Government Area, Kishi, Mr. Adediran Abdul-Lateef, thanked the Governor for the initiative while also appealing to the people to show more support to the Makinde led-administration.
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