Omu-Aran community hails Kwara govt’s efforts to boost healthcare
Healthcare
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Jan. 15, 2020 (NAN) The people of Omu-Aran community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Wednesday commended the state government’s efforts toward bringing healthcare services closer to the people at the grassroots.
Chief Bisi Adeyemi, President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA) gave the commendation during the installation of a vaccine storage freezer and electricity solar panels at Ofe-Aran Primary healthcare centre, Omu-Aran.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the installation was being executed by the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHDA) in collaboration with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (Gavi).
Adeyemi, represented at the event by Dr Sule Popoola, the association’s Auditor, said the once moribund primary healthcare services had received the desired boost since Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq came into office.
According to him, the state government under Gov Abdulrazaq have been matching words with action since assuming office in seeing that our various healthcare facilities, especially at the grassroots, becomes functional to serve the teeming populace.
He expressed the community’s appreciation and that of the traditional ruler of Omu-Aran , Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, over the installation of the vaccine storage freezers and the electricity solar panels.
He said the facilities would not only provide availability and timely distribution of vaccines to deserving beneficiaries, but would also help to reduce high rate diseases among children and adults.
Adeyemi also used the opportunity to assure the team from the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHDA) of adequate maintenance of the facilities to serve its intended purpose.
Mrs Abolarin Justina, Officer-in-Charge, Ofe-Aran Primary Healthcare Centre, in her remarks, said the facilities would assist in overcoming the challenges of vaccine storage that is being encountered in the centre.
“To keep these vaccines in their required state and form you need this kind of specific freezer with readily available power supply.
According to her, keeping these vaccines in their required state and form has been a major concern impeding routine and periodical immunisation exercises in the centre.
“But today, we are saying a big thank you to His Excellency, the various agencies and partners, for bailing us out of these predicaments,’’ she said.
Dr Femi Joseph, the Chief Medical Director, Omu-Aran general hospital, on his part, commended the government for giving utmost priority to offsetting already accumulated counterpart funds to foreign medical bodies to bring back the state on track.
“All these benefits are products of government’s magnanimity towards keeping its obligations as regard payment of medical counterpart funds and we are optimistic such gesture will be sustained,’’ he said.
Mr Abdulkareem Garuba, the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHDA) Team Lead, disclosed that the installation exercise would cover the entire 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to him, the exercise is part of a larger plan by the state government towards ensuring that healthcare centres, outposts, cottage hospitals, are equipped with necessary facilities to function effectively.
“More importantly, this is very critical toward the full take-off of the proposed comprehensive health insurance scheme set to be rolled-out by the state government in due course.
He said the vaccine storage installation team had already covered Offa, Oyun and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of the State. (NAN)
ISHO/AIJ/AFA
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Edited by Abigael Joshua/Felix Ajide