By Ademola Orunbon
The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele has said that the present administration would continue to champion the course towards the repositioning of Primary Health Care (PHC), facilities across the State for efficient service delivery.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele, in a statement signed by the Press Officer, Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board (OGSPHCDB), Mrs. Yemisi Fashola, gave the assurance in Abeokuta during a strategic meeting of a Task Force Committee set up to strengthen activities of primary healthcare system.
The Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Chairperson of the task force, noted that setting up of the committee was a federal government initiative, to drive the implementation of Primary Healthcare across the country and ensure delivery of its core functions in the communities.
She reiterated the government’s commitment of provision of the qualitative and affordable healthcare to doorstep of the people, saying that the determination necessitated the launch of Health Insurance Scheme, systematic upgrading, renovation, and equipping of dilapidated facilities to the standard
She charged the Committee members to make deliberate efforts to ensure that facilities perform their roles in meeting the healthcare demands of their immediate communities.
“As a committee, let us see ourselves as advocates, so that people can take advantage of services provided at the PHCs to help detect and treat life-threatening health conditions at early stage without seeking secondary or tertiary health care”, Engr. Salako -Oyedele said
Earlier in her address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said PHC was the pillar of healthcare systems, members of the Committee were critical stakeholders in ensuring the delivery of qualitative healthcare to the people, especially at the local government levels, urging them to join hands with the government in proffering sustainable solutions to challenges to move PHC systems forward in the State.
In his presentation, the Executive Secretary Primary Health Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, stated that the Committee was saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the outcomes gathered to strengthen health system in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard, as it provides regular feedback to the Governor.
Ogunsola highlighted the terms of reference of the Task Force in all PHC activities to include, effective leadership and coordination, update on a 12-month State Strategic Plan for integrated PHC, providing oversight function for the implementation of PHC activities, overseeing the preparation of budgets, advocating for timely and adequate resource allocation and ensuring judicious use of all allocated funds, among others.
