Demola Akinyemi
9 January 2009
Ilorin-The Minister for Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has challenged state governors and other stakeholders in the health sector to be ready to play very active roles in making radical changes in the health sector so as to assist President Yar' Adua achieve his seven point agenda in the sector and that of vision 2020.
Professor Osotimehin speaking with journalists in Songa also said that an Act that will take effective health care delivery to the door steps of all Nigerians which is to be passed by the National Assembly was underway.
The minister who was in Songa, Edu local government area of the state to assess the community health scheme in Songa put in place by Hygiea noted that primary healthcare remains the cornerstone of President Umar Yar'Adua's health policies adding that no efforts would be spared in government attempt to bring about a sound and qualitative primary healthcare delivery system.
Professor Osotimehin said the choice of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NIHS) hospital in the town as his first official assignment outside Abuja underscored the importance he attached to primary healthcare in the country, stressing that "We are desirous of making a difference and if we are serious about providing adequate primary healthcare for our people, primary healthcare is the way to go," .
Earlier, at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) permanent site along old Jebba road in the metropolis, he disclosed the preparedness of the government to adequately fund the teaching hospitals in the country to make them perform optimally.
He made the remark after being conducted round the hospital facilities by the chief medical director of UITH, Dr Suleiman Kuranga.
Discussing plans by his ministry to collaborate with the state government to achieve the desired goal, the minister emphasized that "we have been working very hard to achive this and we shall make the state governments realize that they have to give back to the people."
Osotimehin noted that primary healthcare and sound education remained the only areas where government officers at all levels could compensate those who elected them into offices.
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