Akeredolu blasts critics of health policy

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Monday lambasted criticism over the level of the health sector in the state, saying his administration is in the process of revamping the sector health.

The Governor, while speaking through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Richard Olatunde, told critics to travel around the state to assess the level of infrastructure development throughout the state, especially in the health sector.< /p>

Akeredolu, who explained that the health sector was crumbling and in poor condition when his administration took over, said the majority of existing health facilities in the state were in poor condition, while new policies had been introduced by his government.

In Olatunde's statement, Akeredolu said, "When this administration came on board in 2017, maternal and child care services at the two mother-and-child hospitals in Akure and city ​​of Ondo were already suspended because of the arrears of debts already incurred on consumables, in particular on medicines.

"Imbued with an inexorable determination and commitment to develop the state's health sector and revive hospitals for dying mothers and children, Governor Akeredolu expanded the facilities of special health care to the other two senatorial districts in the state since the previous two established by the previous administration were concentrated in the central senatorial district.

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"On 6 February 2018, Governor Akeredolu signed into law the bill establishing the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) and the Contributory Health Scheme of Ondo State (ODCHS). ODCHC offers five tailored health insurance products for all sections of Ondo State's large population under ODCHS coverage, including the Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme ( AMCHIS).

"The Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS) is a state equity scheme for two groups of vulnerable people: pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years This program is fully funded by the state government.

“Governor Akeredolu launched this program on December 3, 2019. Since the inception of the program, he has made the provision of maternal and child care free and sustainable. It provides access to antenatal care, childbirth (including caesarean section), postnatal care for the mother (up to 6 weeks after delivery), neonatal care (first 30 days of the baby's life) and to the treatment of common diseases in children until they reach the age of five. Beneficiaries do not pay for services.

"The pre-qualification criterion to benefit from this program is the Kaadi Igbeayo (Ondo State Residence Card), which is issued to residents of Ondo State by the National Information Technology Agency (SITA).Governor Akeredolu has also ensured that the card is issued FREE OF CHARGE to pregnant women wishing to become AMCHIS beneficiaries.

"You should also be aware that the premium for AMCHIS is solely paid by the Ondo State Government and there is a state budget line every year for this purpose. To date, AMCHIS has registered more than 22,500 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children under five).

“There are seven AMCHIS providers spread across the three senate districts of the state, namely: Mother & Child Hospital, Akure (Central Senate District); UNIMEDTH (Laje, Ondo and Akure complexes) - (central senatorial district); General Hospital, Owo (North Senatorial District); State Specialty Hospital, Ikare-Akoko (North Senatorial District); General Hospital, Ore (Southern Senatorial District); State Specialty Hospital, Okitipupa (Southern Senatorial District); and General Hospital, Igbokoda (Southern Senatorial District).

"Since the launch of this program on December 3, 2019, a total of 24,678 pregnant women and children under the age of 5 have benefited so far. At Mother and Child Hospital, Akure alone, more than 4,842 pregnant women in total have accessed antenatal care till date with 3,432 deliveries in total.

Akeredolu said apart from service delivery, his administration has also embarked on the structural expansion of Akure Mother and Child Hospital with the construction of a ward General Outpatient Clinic (GOPD) which is almost complete.

"As part of its determination to provide first-class healthcare facilities to the people of the state, Akeredolu has taken another giant step with the ongoing construction of a modern university medical sciences with 250 beds University hospital complexes in Akure and Ondo towns respectively, apart from the regular supply of medical equipment to CHU and Mother and Child Hospitals.

"From the beginning of his administration until today, Governor Akeredolu has...