Amosun Plans 250 Health Centres

The Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun has promised to construct functional health centres in each of the 236 political wards in the state.

Already, rehabilitation work is in progress in all the 50 health centres scattered across the state and our correspondent gathered that work would be completed on them within the next two weeks.

The governor disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the 2011 Kick Polio campaign, tagged: “Men: Let’s Kick Polio Out” in Abeokuta during which he immunised 59 children.

According to him, “we plan to establish a functional health facility in each of the 236 wards and that will bring it up to 236 but we hope to round up the figure to 250. We believe in the importance of a functional health care.

“Some 53 years ago, I was born at a health centre in Totoro area of Abeokuta and if the health centre was not there at that time, I wonder what could have happened to me. I am happy that the centre is still standing today and has all the facilities needed for effective healthcare delivery.”

The governor continued,“this administration believes firmly that health is wealth and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. I promise to ensure health care delivery to all our people across the state. This explains why I declared free maternal care for all pregnant women as well as free health care for all children below five years of age.”

Amosun revealed that rehabilitation work on the 50 health care centres was part of the initial intervention efforts of his administration, adding that they would be ready before his 100 days in office in two weeks’ time.

To make them functional, the governor said boreholes will be sunk within the premises of the health centres, explaining that generating sets will equally be provided to ensure all round power supply for storage of vaccines at the centres.

He praised the theme of the 2011 Kick Polio campaign, stating that the theme calls attention to the fact that the care for children should not be the responsibility of mothers alone.

Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, enjoined stakeholders to complement government’s efforts at preventing killer diseases, charging them to redouble efforts in the fight against polio prevention.

In his goodwill message, the representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Wale Fameesin, commended the state government for its commitment towards the provision of good health-care services for the citizenry and made case for an improvement on awareness campaign on polio eradication.

Also speaking, the representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Mrs. Boma Otobo, underscored the need for continued government support for health workers in the fight against polio.

By Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta