Health In Osun, The Oyetola’s Way

In the eight years that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was in the saddle as the governor of the State of Osun, the issue of health and the well being of the citizens of the state was always on the front burner.

Many health initiatives were undertaken and many government policies in relation to health were also undertaken.

The climax of it was the establishment of the Osun Health Insurance Agency and the inauguration of the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).

These two laudable programmes are just the icing on the cake of plans to fix the health sector in the state.

To say that the past administration that held sway in the past eight years has carved its name in gold is just to say the least.

The Aregbesola’s administration was a trail blazer and to consolidate on these gains in the area of health care provision and services, Gboyega Oyetola the new governor of the state has immediately set the ball rolling with the constitution of a health committee in the state that he is personally chairing.

Now, if this is not consolidation, I do not see what it is?

For the governor to personally chair a committee on health is to say the least laudable and an indication that Oyetola means business.

It is no news again that Governor Oyetola has inaugurated a six man committee with the aim of revitalizing the health sector in the state.

The terms of reference for the health revitalization committee which has been christened, State Of Osun Special Health Intervention And Rehabilitation Committee includes the following:

Review the state of the health sector for efficient health care delivery.

Embark on quick rehabilitation and reactivation of the 332 PHCs in the state.

This is good and credible.

When Ogbeni Aregbesola assumed office as governor on the 27th of November, 2010, there was an environmental menace ravaging the state and after diligence study of the situation, he declared a 90-day State of Emergency on Environmental Sanitation.

The results of that action plan is still being felt today all round the state.

So, Oyetola doing same in the health sector isn’t a surprise at all. It should be lauded by all concerned and given a pass mark. Infact, it should be allowed to succeed.

Oyetola has stated during the inauguration of this special health committee that the action became necessary because his government sees the health concern of the state as vital to its progress.

The inauguration of the committee is part of efforts to meet the critical health needs of the citizens.

The development is in line with the agenda of his administration to build healthy citizens  by ensuring that every resident of the state has access to working, equipped and staffed health facilities.

It is also a reflection of his commitment to ensure free health care delivery at the primary and secondary levels.

It also shows that the administration takes the health sector seriously and that is why it is paying serious attention to the sector.