The Permanent Secretary of the agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, stated this at a stakeholders’ engagement on Monday in Akure.
The engagement was tagged:” Strengthening Primary Healthcare Services in Ondo State through Citizens Engagement and Ownership.”
Akanbiemu, who was represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunization in the agency, Dr Victor Adefesoye, said the engagement was necessary to inform the participants on revitalization in the primary healthcare centres.
According to him, the engagement will also provide opportunity for participants to make contributions that can improve the PHC services in the state.
“We are bringing all here to cross-fertilize ideas on how to improve what is going on in our various health centres.
“We have improved in our various primary healthcare facilities by reconstructing, renovating and bringing innovation, good ones into our existing health care facilities.
“We also have supplies in terms of consumable and medications. We also have equipment, you know, our global system, the modern facilities, health care equipment that are available in our various health centres.
“We also have diagnostic kits, real-time reporting system is also there, to the extent that when a patient or a client gets to a health facility, without wasting time, we are able to identify the person’s problem.
“We are able to conduct drug tests, we are able to make medications available and the person is treated without delay, so that in no distant time our health care facilities are working according to the global standard.
“Our health care system are optimal and the health of the whole society is sound and robust,” he stated.
The permanent secretary urged pregnant women, nursing mothers and others to access the primary healthcare centres for medical needs, which he described as virtually free.
He warned those discouraging residents to take vaccines and immunization, saying that any programme by the government was meant for betterment of the residents.
“These are the things we want us to rub our minds together so that we can know that whatever vaccines we are giving to our children are to further strengthen their health,” he stated.
In her remarks, Mrs Moronke Orhorhamreru, UNICEF representative, said that primary healthcare remained the foundation of any strong and resilient health system playing a critical role in preventing disease, promoting health, and ensuring timely access to essential services.
Orhorhamreru noted that the engagement would give room to reflect, share perspectives, and strengthen collaboration between government, health workers, and community stakeholders.
She added that sustainable improvements in health care delivery could not be achieved without active community participation and ownership.
Also speaking, Mr Olamide Ayedun, a representative of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) said the platform would enable citizens and stakeholders to provide feedback on primary healthcare services in their communities and share their recommendations.
Ayedun promised that CHAI would continue to provide technical and financial support to the health sector in the state.
Mr Taiwo Filani, a Red Cross representative, said that strong healthcare systems could not be built by government alone, stating that when communities are involved, and empowered to take ownership of their health facilities and services, things would improve. (NAN)
