Senator Teslim Folarin, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the 2023 general elections has said that the Oyo State’s health sector is in shambles in terms of infrastructure, equipment, and intolerable working conditions for health workers
Folarin said this, on Tuesday, during a parley with Health Workers in the state, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District also revealed some of the projects he has facilitated for the state.
He said his government shall not only upgrade the public health infrastructure in the state but also make required provisions to save lives and treat people.
His words: “Frankly speaking, Oyo State’s health sector is in shambles in terms of infrastructure, equipment, and intolerable working conditions of health workers. Some other glaring problems include understaffing in our hospitals, expensive treatment, and the unavailability of basic drugs. The situation is all the more tragic in rural areas.
“It is worth noting the University College Hospital is the biggest public-sector hospital in Oyo State, which is visited by thousands of common people daily for receiving emergency care and getting routine treatments and tests. But the institution is overstretched. Hence, the need to comprehensively upgrade all the state-owned hospitals and also provide new standard ones to serve the lacking communities.
“As a lawmaker representing Oyo Central senatorial district, I have made significant interventions in the health sector of Oyo State by facilitating four (4) standard healthcare facilities vis-a-vis Primary Healthcare Centre, Pade in Akinyele LGA; Primary Healthcare Centre, Olode in Oluyole LGA; Araromi Market in Oyo East LGA and the latest one, which is due for commissioning is 100-bed Mother-Child Specialist Hospital Abode in Ona-Ara LGA.”
Citing a study, Folarin said Oyo state is currently ranked 12th out of 36 states and last in Southwest in terms of healthcare provision.
He also revealed some of his plans in the health sector and for the health workers in the state if elected as governor of the state.
He said: “A recent study shows that Oyo State is currently ranked 12th out of 36 States in terms of healthcare provision and last in Southwest Zone. Before Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration was inaugurated, our state was 8th on the log (www.healthwise.punchng.com and www.stateofthestates.kingmakers.com.ng). To me and the good people of Oyo state, this is a reversal of fortune. However, I must commend all our health workers for risking their lives to save lives.
“Having realized that only a handful of citizens can afford treatment in private hospitals, our administration shall reform the health sector of Oyo State. Our government shall not only upgrade the public health infrastructure in the state but also make required provisions to save lives and treat people. The onus lies on the government to take care of its citizens by all means necessary and our administration will not pay service to the health sector.
“Our mission for the health sector of Oyo State is to improve quality of life by making healthcare delivery available, accessible and affordable. Permit me to quickly highlight some of my health reform programs: Revitalization of services and renovation of Ring Road State Hospital Ibadan; Expansion of the state Ambulance services; Establishment of Cardiovascular Centre at Ring Road State Hospital, State Hospitals Oyo and Ogbomoso; Quality improvement Health care service delivery – Public Private Partnership for some hospitals clinical, nonclinical and diagnostic services and Sustaining and revitalizing the Primary Health Care Board
“Expansion of the Semi-autonomous status for some hospitals; Establishment of a Drug Distribution Centre; Upgrading and Renovation of state and General Hospitals and Health Institutions; Completion and Provision of the medical equipment for the sustenance of accreditation of LAUTHEC teaching hospital, College of Nursing and College of Health Technology; Provision and sustenance of the Health Insurance for the citizens of the State; Sustenance of the regulation of private health care facilities to ensure compliance to a minimum standard of health care practices; Sustaining collaboration with Donors and partners in terms manpower development, counterpart contribution, equipment, and renovation; Introduction of Electronic Medical Record to some Health activities, eg health care Service delivery, registration of Private hospital
“Furthermore, our administration shall implement WHO Charter on Health Worker Safety: To connect the dots between policies on patient safety and health worker safety; To develop and implement national programs for the occupational health and safety of health workers; To protect health workers from violence in the workplace; To improve the mental health and psychological well-being of health workers; To protect health workers from physical and biological hazards.”
Also speaking, the former Commissioner of Health, Oyo state, Dr. Isaac Omolabi, who represented the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the nation is a little bit at the crossroad adding that the present generation and the generation to come must responsibly act fast.
He said Tinubu is not just a Yoruba man but a critical thinker that loves this country and wants the country to progress.
Commending Folarin, he said, “ I guarantee you, for the first time in the history of Oyo state, we have not had any competent candidate that considered the health sector, agriculture, education, undeveloped as we have in Senator Teslim Folarin.
“He is concerned about how to improve the health sector of Oyo state, not only education but also the human capacity for health. He knows you’re underfunded and not well paid. How do we address these challenges? He is more than aware and can do it.”
