Gov. Seyi Makinde a Rare Gem that knows where the shoe pinches his people | Olaniyi Stephen

Gov. Seyi Makinde a Rare Gem that knows where the shoe pinches his people|Olaniyi Stephen

For Nigeria to attain the millennium Goal in health and reverse the prevalent high mortality rate amongst mother and child, it must adopt with immediate dispatch, the Oyo State health delivery programme.

Quality healthcare and affordable education to all citizens should be the primary aim of any serious government, these are some of the many ideologies that set Gov. Seyi Makinde apart from present and past Nigerian governors.

We believe as an article of faith that everybody in society must have access to decent healthcare, especially the most vulnerable in society, pregnant women and children and elderly ones. As the economy of the country and state grows giving unfettered healthcare to our people should not be negotiable. Even in the developed countries of the world, healthcare takes a primary position in discourse. 

Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has on  assumption of office reiterated the commitment of his administration to bringing back the good old days when the State was the haven of medical care services in the country and region.

He assured the people that the State healthcare system would undergo a lot of reformationc as part of Government resolve in repositioning the socio-economic landscape of the State.

“The role of Government is to steer the overall healthcare development, designing healthcare policies and programmes, security, essential public health functions and regulating the delivery of healthcare services. This is expected to ensure that citizens of the State have a high standard of living while mortality and morbidity rates are kept low” he said.

In 2020 budget, 

the other area which has been prioritized in is Healthcare at 5.18% of the total budget proposal. This is due to the situation of the Heath care delivery in the state on assumption of office where some  hospitals were mere consulting clinics due to lack of basic functional medical equipment by the past administration. 

In September, 2019 Gov. Makinde led administration installed and commissioned the Radio-diagnostic Unit, a surgical operation theatre and an automated medical laboratory at the Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road in Ibadan, where all these facilities have been abandoned for many years. This ensures quality healthcare delivery to the people of Oyo State.

For effective mobility, Gov. Seyi Makinde,

in his determination to improve health facilities and infrastructures in Oyo State, he has completed the rehabilitation of the second gate road of the State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan.

 The road network within the hospital were in serious disrepair over the years which necessitated the initiative of the present administration in the state led by Governor Seyi Makinde to embark on the rehabilitation of the road. 

This is part of the efforts of the present administration to bring back the glories of the hospital and fulfill the electoral promises of Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration in providing good and qualitative healthcare system for the people.

The road has added to the aesthetic value of the health institution while other intervention projects are also on going. This effort of the government is worthy of appreciation by all. Governor Makinde has promised and he is fulfilling the promise at all fronts.

Apart from above, he has been working assiduously to make sure that similar facilities  is rebuilt or renovated in other State Hospitals like, the General Hospitals in Eruwa, Tede and Iseyin which will be renovated this year according to his speech during 2020 Budget presentation.

Gov. Seyi Makinde did not stop here, due to the  greater pressure on health facilities and thus a need for more personnel. He has, therefore, given approval for the recruitment of five hundred (500) Medical and Health Workers in our hospitals, at the State College of Nursing and Midwifery as well as the College of Health Science and Technology in which the examination has been conducted for the applicants, while waiting for the final Oral interview.

Also, during the flag off of the Free Health Mission in Kishi, headquarters of Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State in March this year, Gov Seyi Makinde led  administration disclosed the sum of N1 billion earmarked for the upgrade of all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state. He directed all Council Chairmen to spend 7.5 per cent of their allocation on primary health care centres as a way of promoting good health care service delivery.

He asserted that the role of government was to steer the overall health care development, designing health care policies and programme. 

He noted that the decay in the health sector over the last few decades “have come to us as a recurring decimal which has to be confronted holistically and at all fronts.”

On COVID-19, because of the love in which Gov Seyi Makinde has for the people in the state, he  took drastical steps unlike other states and Federal Government, he refused to take a rash, and grand standing decisions in the wake of pandemic. Imposed curfew, but allowed the selective movement of vital goods, engaged in effective public awareness in all communities, including Market places, instead of locking down the entire state and short down markets. 

Those states that shut down shops and markets early, including Federal Government have seen reasons with wisdom of governor Seyi Makinde, that Nigeria business culture wouldn't allow whole closure of Markets because of the nature of buying and selling of our people.

Gov Makinde also move with speed by building facilities to cater for victims of the virus and engaged season Professional to preempt the pandemic.

At Olodo facility center for example, the following are in place, Anastasia's machine with double vaporizers, Intensive Care bed unit  (both manual and electric), Multi Parameter Monitor, Infusion Pumps, Solar Power supply, Mikano Power Generator, Independent Power Transformer, Clorine Bath Tank, Temporary Morgue and, Six Ventilators that are already be delivered.

Unlike the previous administration, Gov. Seyi Makinde has been so Transparent, not only public announcing names of the Donors to COVID-19 Project. But stated clearly, how much have been donated by an individual and groups, including the materials donated. Based on figure that has been donated, Gov. Seyi Makinde said that no middle men would be allowed to Corner money and materials meant for victims and the Vulnerable who will be affected by steps taking to minimize the effect of the rampaging virus.

Gov. Seyi Makinde has also set aside Palliatives for the same group of people. But this was the exact opposite of what happened in 2011, after the August 28th rain disaster that killed many of our people, ruined hundred of businesses and rendered thousands homeless. At that time, over One Billion Naira was collected from kind hearted Donors, led by Aliko Dangote who gave 60Million Naira and numerous of Banks who among them donated 250Million Naira. That was back in 2011, till this day, that administration didn't not give the account to how the money and materials were disbursed, leaving many people to further poverty, penury and further death.

Finally, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has been recognised and awarded the most ‘responsive and exemplary’ in its approach to affordable primary healthcare delivery in the State.

The agency in which was listed among the top winners of the 2019 Miss Oyo Merit and Good Governance Award and was presented by the organizers at event which held at Ibadan recently.

 

The award was dedicated to the State government, Gov. Seyi Makinde for his drive to make primary healthcare affordable and closer to all and sundry within his short period of his administration.