Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mariam Ileyemi
Published on 2024-03-13 20:48:58
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has made a significant announcement regarding the renovation and construction of additional health facilities across the state. This initiative aims to enhance the healthcare infrastructure to better serve the people of Ondo State. The Governor’s commitment to improving the health sector was highlighted during the 40th annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) held in Akure.
During the conference, Mr. Aiyedatiwa, represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, emphasized the critical importance of the health sector in the state’s overall development agenda. He reiterated that the construction of new facilities and the upgrade of existing ones are central to his administration’s priorities. The Governor stated, “We are undertaking structural and infrastructural upgrades of our health facilities, including the construction of 500-bed wards in the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) and the installation of modern medical equipment across all levels of care.”
Furthermore, it was revealed that the state government is actively recruiting additional healthcare professionals to fill vacancies left by those who have relocated abroad in search of better opportunities. The recruitment drive aims to employ up to 1,000 health professionals across various cadres to ensure the continuity of quality healthcare services in the state.
The theme of this year’s APHPN conference, ‘Repositioning Public Health in a New Political Dispensation,’ underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among government, health professionals, patients, and partners to drive positive changes in the health sector. Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed his commitment to enhancing public health services and called for unity among health professionals to support government initiatives.
Acknowledging the Federal Government’s health commitments, the Governor praised President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health and the appointment of Health Minister Ali Pate. The President’s dedication to healthcare reform was affirmed by the Special Adviser on Health, Salma Anas, who emphasized the administration’s focus on achieving universal health coverage and bridging gaps in service delivery.
At the conference, the National President of APHPN, Alphonsus Isara, lauded the state government for creating an enabling environment for health professionals to deliver quality healthcare services. Professor Adesegun Fatusi, in his keynote address, stressed the need for increased production of health workers and data-driven decision-making to enhance the performance of the health system.
In conclusion, the conference provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to improve public healthcare services in Nigeria. It underscored the importance of collaboration, advocacy, and research-based approaches to transform the health sector. The collective efforts of government, health professionals, and partners are essential to repositioning public health and ensuring accessible, quality healthcare services for all.
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