The InfoStride Forum

 

Protocols

 

I am highly delighted to be here today at the flag-off of the renovation of all General Hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. This is another opportunity to fulfill one of this administration's cardinal promises and goes on record as one of our ground-breaking achievements. It might interest you to know that while this administration gives equal attention to every goal on our 8-Point Agenda, Healthcare just like Education is particularly dear to my heart.

Ladies and gentlemen, no one wants to be sick. A person who is sick cannot take advantage of the phenomenal progress that this administration is making in every area of life in line with our 8-Point Agenda. This stresses the importance of the Healthcare Agenda while not diminishing the import of all other aspects of the 8-point Agenda.

It is commonly said that "health is wealth". This is why our administration has been paying careful attention to the strengthening of our healthcare delivery system with a view to making it more functional and relevant to the needs of our people particularly at the grassroots. Our exertions in the Health sector is informed by this administrations progressive ideology that traces its lineage back to such great men as the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who said, "In order to attain to the goals of economic freedom and prosperity, Nigeria must do certain things as a matter of urgency and priority. It must provide free education (at all levels) and free health facilities for the masses of its citizens". Chief Awolowo of blessed memory established the foundations upon which we are building today. His administration as the Premier of the then Western Region provided free healthcare and invested greatly in healthcare infrastructure many of which stand to this day. His legacy was also consolidated and advanced greatly during the administration of our own illustrious leader General Adeyinka Adebayo as the Governor of the old Western Region, who demonstrated great passion in his service to our people. Let me also inform you that some of the Hospitals to be renovated were built well over 40 years ago by the General Adeyinka Adebayo administration. Therefore, this event of today is historically significant because of its cross-generational import.

All the 18 General Hospitals in all our Local Government areas are being renovated at a cost of N955,094,403.51 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Five Million, Ninety Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Three Naira, Fifty One Kobo). This is a necessary investment of our commonwealth in this important sector. The renovations would be carried out within a short period of twelve weeks to provide better healthcare service delivery for our people.

The General Hospitals which are secondary healthcare facilities play a crucial role in the healthcare delivery hierarchy. They are at the interface between our Primary Healthcare facilities and the Tertiary. Therefore, every single case referred to these General Hospitals from the Primary Healthcare facilities across the state would be treated free of charge! The General Hospitals would also be a major conduit for the delivery of Healthcare Education to complement the efforts of our primary healthcare facilities. This is in line with our adoption of Preventive Healthcare strategies that are more cost effective and in the overall best interest of our people. You would all agree with me that it is better to educate our people and equip them with knowledge and skills that would help prevent the occurrence of sickness. Also, diseases that are identified in good time are more effectively treated.

Ladies and gentlemen, our efforts at providing a conducive physical environment for robust and functional healthcare delivery are being complemented by our periodic Free Healthcare Mission that takes healthcare services to the grassroots. This initiative which already has a coverage of close to 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand) people, is taken to every nook and cranny of the state as a means of driving healthcare delivery to the grassroots. We are leaving no stone unturned in making sure everyone is covered.

In concluding, I would like to add my voice to the advocacy for the use of our medical facilities by our people. It is germane for the honourable people of Ekiti State to patronize these General Hospitals when completed, as well as other healthcare facilities.  The advocacy for the utilisation of our health facilities has been very intensive to discourage our people especially women from patronising unorthodox "healthcare providers" who in many cases complicate medical cases and sadly leads to preventable deaths.  Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality and child morbidity in the world and this is one of the causative factors – people at the grassroots don't utilise medical facilities even when available due to some religious and socio-cultural beliefs. All stakeholders must therefore pay urgent attention to educating and sensitising our people to seek medical services from Government-approved Hospitals rather than patronize quacks and unskilled or self acclaimed medical practitioners.

It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility that I flag-off the commencement of these renovation works, to the glory of God and the benefit of the honourable people of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Thank you for listening.

Ekiti is working; Just Keep Faith.

 

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Monday, September 9, 2013

Via: Ekiti State Government - Official Press Release