Abiodun Vows to Enhance Healthcare Delivery in Ogun State

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the narrative of poor healthcare delivery across the state.

Abiodun emphasized that his administration recognizes the critical role of well-equipped and functional primary healthcare centers in providing accessible and affordable healthcare services.

As a result, significant resources have been invested in rehabilitating numerous centers to enhance their capacity for optimal performance.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, made this known on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the state capital, during the opening of the 41st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria.

Abiodun said, “In Ogun State, we are committed to repositioning our primary health care as a foundation for an effective and resilient health care system. We recognize that primary health care is the gateway to achieving universal health coverage.

“We however acknowledge the challenges that persist. The funding constraint, inadequate human resources, and socioeconomic disparities which pose a threat to the public health efforts that are being made members of the Public Health Association.”

The governor stated that forums like the annual conference of public health physicians offer a platform for robust discussions that can generate innovative solutions and actionable policies to address and overcome identified challenges in the healthcare sector.

Speaking earlier, the President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Alphonsus Isara, emphasized the need for effective implementation of primary healthcare practices to enhance healthcare delivery in the country.

Isara stressed that improving healthcare delivery requires all stakeholders to return to the basics and focus on grassroots-level interventions.

He has called for the appointment of qualified Medical Officers with Public Health training (MOHs) to lead healthcare teams across the 774 local government areas in the country to ensure optimal healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

He noted that the current situation, where only about 40% of LGAs in Nigeria have medically qualified MOHs, is unacceptable.

The association also used the platform to advocate for the establishment of Departments of Public Health and Community Medicine in all secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities across Nigeria.

He explained that having these departments in hospitals would significantly enhance the country’s preparedness to address the rising incidence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Isara added that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) would include the election of new leadership for the association, while critical issues such as the rising incidence of substance abuse among young Nigerians and the prioritization of mental health in primary healthcare would be discussed.

The Ogun State Chairman of APHPN, Dr. Adewale Adesanya, lamented the shortage of healthcare personnel in the country due to the “japa syndrome” (mass emigration of professionals) and urged the government to recruit more workers to mitigate the impact of this challenge.

Adesanya also called on the government to improve the state of the economy and demonstrate greater commitment to enhancing the conditions of service for healthcare workers. This, he said, would discourage those remaining from seeking opportunities abroad.