Some of the medicals
Determined to strengthen and improve health facilities and well-being of citizens of Ondo State, the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has distributed multi-million naira lifesaving medical and laboratory equipment to Primary Health Centres across the 18 Council Areas in the state.
This was contained in a statement by the Press Officer to the Governor, Mr Bode Akinwumi.
The medical and laboratory equipment include 18 Microscopes, 18 Bench Centrifuge, 18 Improved counting chamber, 18 Micro-Haematocentrifuge, 18 Micro-Haematocrit reader, 36 Glucometers and Strips, 18 Widal test Kits, 18 Oxygen Concentrators (with inbuilt inverters), 18 Oxygen Face Masks and Laboratory Reagents of various types.
Akeredolu said it was the first phase of equipping the Primary Healthcare facilities in gradual fulfilment of the Millennium Service Package, MSP, pillar of the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof ,PHCUOR, policy of the Federal Government.
The ceremony held at the headquarters of Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Board in Akure, Governor Akeredolu said the gesture was aimed at ensuring that at least, one unit of a well-equipped, standardized and functional laboratory become operational in each of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
“One striking feature of some of the multimillion naira worth of equipment, is that proper cognizance was taken of the infrastructural profile of our communities.
“For instance, for the reason that a number of these communities where our Primary Healthcare facilities are located do not have sufficient and regular power supply, we ensured that Oxygen Concentrators that were procured are those with in-built Uninterrupted Power supply, UPS.
“This will ensure prolonged usage of the equipment to deliver oxygen to persons needing it, especially children with acute severe respiratory distress which has claimed many lives of many of our children of less than five years”, he said.
The governor added that the distribution was part of the commitment of his administration at fulfilling the promise he made to the people of the state to transform the health sector with a view to improving the health of the people.
“When our administration came on board in 2017, we made a pledge to the good people of our state, that we shall steadily improve the health of our people by providing the enabling environment and necessary working tools for our teeming health workers at all levels of care.
“Today, I’m glad that in less than two years, the potential of our Primary Healthcare system is being boosted with these equipment being commissioned today”, he said.
While stressing the importance of basic medical and laboratory equipment across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, Governor Akeredolu hinted that the procured equipment would help save lives of children with respiratory distress and ascertain the blood level of pregnant women.
He added that the medical equipment would also assist in conducting HIV screening, blood grouping and cross-matching as well as all other necessary and routine antenatal investigation at the Primary Healthcare level.
“It is my hope that these equipment will be promptly distributed and installed in the facilities for which they are earmarked so that our people can begin to feel the impact of government in our healthcare system.
“It is also my expectation that requisite training will be organized for relevant health workers who shall man these equipment”, he stated.
The governor added that the functional capacity of the health facilities to provide proper oxygen therapy is being guaranteed with the provision of Oxygen Concentrators and their accessories.
Arakunrin Akeredolu assured that in the nearest future, subsequent phases of equipment and facilities upgrade will be spread out to other Primary Healthcare facilities till each was able to meet the criteria for proper classification according to the MSP guideline.
In his address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Dr Wahab Adegbenro, said the procurement was to add value to humanity by making life better for citizens of the Sunshine State.
He stated that the understanding of the administration of primary healthcare at the grassroots and to the common man necessitated its intense commitment.
According to him, the commitment was geared towards significant improvement of infrastructural conditions of the primary healthcare system.
The commissioner added that it was the central objective of the Akeredolu administration to enrich the quality of care available to the people of the state.
Adegbenro said the State Government was of the opinion that its yearnings and health commitment could not be achieved except necessary medical and laboratory equipment were provided.
“It is for this reason and many more that the state government resolved to heavily invest in equipment upgrade of primary healthcare.
“Amidst tight financial inflow of government, it could still afford this gesture for rebirth of primary healthcare in Ondo State.
“This equipment, no doubt, will usher in a disease-free Ondo State to the delight of all,” he stated.
