JUST IN : Our Effort To Fix PHCS Infrastructure In Osun Ongoing- Dr. Akindele
My attention has been brought to a picture in circulation of a maternity centre in Ayedaade in a deplorable condition. The picture painfully conveyed the depth of infrastructural decay that the Ademola Adeleke administration inherited in the health sector, which efforts have been directed to fix in the last two years.
It is pertinent to note that primary healthcare centres are classed as focal and non-focal. I am disturbed, however, to note that this administration met both classes of the primary healthcare centres in terrible states notwithstanding a $20.5 million World Health Organisation (WHO) grant accessed by the immediate past administration to turnaround their infrastructure.
It is for this reason that this administration put in place another effort to upscale the infrastructures of primary healthcare centres to meet up with the WHO standard and better serve the people of the state, most especially those at the grassroot. For the ongoing intervention, a total of 345 PHCs are marked for total rehabilitation, most of which are focal healthcare centres, with at least one in each of the 332 political wards in Osun state.
In Ayedaade, which is the subject of the ongoing debate, we have rehabilitated no fewer than six (6) PHCs, erected fences in many that are left open and unsecure, installed alternative power source for 24/7 power supplyand motorized boreholes to supply the facilities uninterrupted water supply among other needs that will enhance service delivery. For the records, primary healthcare centres in Ayedaade local government that have been rehabilitated by this administration are Wakajaye Town PHC ,Wakajaye Junction PHC, Ijugbe, Oja Ale PHC, Ode-Omu, Ile-Idi Asa PHC, Ode-Omu, Akiriboto II PHC, Oke Odo MPHC, Orile-Owu, Oke-Elu PHC, Gbongan.
We documented, by video recording and pictures, the conditions of the primary healthcare centres, before intervention and after to convey the transformations that occurred. Some of these pictures and videos are usually circulated in order to let the public know what has been done. The centre in the recent picture in circulation is a non-focal centre, which are scheduled for intervention upon the completion of the 345 focal centres being embarked upon by this administration
I must emphasise that this administration’s intervention in the PHCs are not just cosmetics, as was the case with the previous administration, but set out to address the challenges and needs of each facilities to enhance service delivery. Our intervention is guided by a need-based assessment in consultation with experts, personnel, and even community representatives that the healthcare facilities will serve. In the 200 PHCs so far delivered, we can assure the public that everything required, including drugs, to meet the health needs of Osun people are factored in.
The balance of the 145 PHCs will be fixed to make up the 345 scheduled for rehabilitation. Osun has about 700 PHCs, one of the highest in the country, and this administration is committed to ensuring that they are in good shape to serve the healthcare needs of the people. However, this will take some time, and we want to solicit the understanding of the general public to this fact.
If the previous administrations had shown sincere interest in upgrading the infrastructures of the PHCs in Osun, this administration will have less to handle and by now, will have finish with the work to put them in good shape. The Adeleke administration understands the very need of a healthy population and this explains the investment so far poured into not just fixing decayed infrastructures but also ensuring that citizens who uses public healthcare facilities can get basic drugs at no cost to them.
I want to urge the public not to be swayed by the coordinated attempt to discredit the effort of this administration to turn around public health facilities in the state. While there are still more work to be done, the public can attest to the fact of the incredible changes to primary healthcare centres under this administration, and I can assure them that more are still coming.
Signed:
Dr. Akindele Adekunle,
Special Adviser on Public Health to Executive Governor of Osun State.
