By Adegbaju Temitope
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has pledged to deepen investment in the state’s health sector, assuring the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) that his administration will continue to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the welfare of health workers.
Aiyedatiwa gave the assurance on Thursday when the newly elected executive members of the NMA, Ondo State chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Akure.
The governor congratulated the new leadership of the association, saying their election reflected the confidence reposed in them by medical practitioners across the state.
He also commended the immediate past leadership of the NMA for its contributions to the development of the health sector and urged its members to continue to guide and support the new executives.
Aiyedatiwa thanked the association for acknowledging the efforts of his administration in the health sector, saying the government’s campaign promises were being translated into concrete and verifiable projects and policies capable of improving the lives of residents.
“I want to assure you that I will do more, as long as I am here. I will work within the limited resources that are available at my disposal,” the governor said.
He identified security of lives and property as the administration’s first priority, followed by health and education, stressing that his government would continue to pay attention to all sectors of the state’s economy and social development.
According to him, the administration inherited a health sector that required significant intervention to improve its capacity to meet the needs of the people.
He said education remained equally important because sustainable development depended on producing young leaders and building the human capital required to drive development across various sectors.
On healthcare infrastructure, Aiyedatiwa said the government was currently equipping hospitals across the state, while contracts had also been awarded for the construction of 500-bed hospital projects in different locations.
He disclosed that contractors had already mobilised to the project sites, signalling the commencement of work on the facilities.
The governor also responded to concerns raised by the NMA over doctors serving as National Youth Service Corps members and the difficulty being experienced in attracting medical personnel to Akure.
He promised to examine the matter and consider measures that could make the state more attractive to doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration had increased allowances as part of efforts to attract corps members, while a new structure was being constructed at the NYSC camp to provide improved accommodation.
The governor also promised to review the composition of the Ondo State Hospitals Management Board and formally inaugurate it.
He explained that the previous chairman of the board left the position following his appointment as Secretary to the State Government, while another member, Dr Segun Ategbole, resigned to contest an election.
According to Aiyedatiwa, a substantive chairman had already been appointed, while Dr Nathaniel Akeredolu had been providing leadership pending the formal inauguration of the board.
“I will look into the composition and do the official inauguration of the board,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NMA in Ondo State, Dr Roland Arohunmolase, commended Aiyedatiwa for what he described as his commitment to the development of the health sector and the welfare of medical and other health workers in the state.
Arohunmolase described some of the governor’s initiatives in the sector as significant interventions, saying they had positively affected residents as well as healthcare workers.
He specifically commended the implementation of the new salary structure approved by the National Wages Commission, which he described as a major development for workers in the state.
According to him, Ondo State was the first state to implement the new salary structure, adding that the development had improved the economic wellbeing of workers and contributed to better service delivery.
The NMA chairman also praised the state government for procuring modern medical equipment, including a CT scan, and for its plan to establish 500-bed hospitals across the state.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka; Commissioner for Information, Hon Idowu Ajanaku; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof Simidele Odimayo.
