Ondo government charges residents to protect government infrastructure projects

The Ondo state government has warned citizens of the state against the destruction and vandalism of facilities and infrastructure projects in their communities, saying that unwarranted attacks on government property would affect development and cause unimaginable harm rather than good.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, made the call in Akure, the state capital, during a one-day training workshop organized by the Global Health Fund. State/National AIDS Control Agency/Sustainable and resilient health system. /COVID-19 Response Mechanism.

Ajaka, who was represented by Deputy Director of Public Illumination at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Rosemary Falokun, said the call became necessary in order to encourage government and individuals to bring more projects development in rural areas of the state. .

He said that all communities in the state should work hand in hand with the state government to bring solutions to their challenges in their various localities, saying that the development of the states should not be left behind. to the government alone.

He stressed the need for people to take ownership of their health and change their behaviors and said "we have certain organizations in the state, complementing the efforts of the state government to improve our sector of health because the government cannot do it alone.

"They have voluntarily released themselves to visit these base facilities to carry out their disease and other prevention and control exercise in the state."

Speaking, Ms. Jumoke Abereowo, Program Manager, Global Fund/National AIDS Agency/Sustainable Resilient Health System/COVID-19 Response Mechanism explained the essence of the training and said their projects focused on identifying key gaps that affected the quality of health services at the local government level.

Abereowo said, “The projects are implemented in all 18 states of Nigeria. In, Ondo State is one of the beneficiary states and the projects are centered on strengthening infrastructure as well as organizations based on state facilities.

"And also to provide solutions to identify the gap emerging from primary health care facilities in communities in Ondo State.

“In Ondo State, we have five major local governments where projects are being implemented including; Owo, Akure South, Akure North, Ilaje and Ondo West and the projects engage 15 based organizations, working to ensure there is success in the state with representatives of these three networks, people living with HIV /AIDS, TB consistency and Malaria consistency. (ATM).

"We believe government cannot do this alone, hence the need for communities to take ownership and responsibility to address some of the issues emanating from the facilities where they have received health services.< /p>

"This is a call to our government because we think they can still do better, they should provide medical staff and health volunteers like ad hoc staff who can pay stipends and yet they will see their improved knowledge and skills will also strengthen their health facilities.

"We also call on residents of Ondo State not to back down on government or individual infrastructure projects, but instead should come together to ensure they protect all projects who enter their different communities."

Program Officer, Justice Development and Peace Center (JDPC) Austin Ogunleye, said during their project monitoring in some rural areas, they found it was very difficult to have health workers in each of these health facilities.

According to him, it shows that the state has limited the health personnel and called on the government to do something to improve the health sector in the state.

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Ondo government instructs residents to protect government infrastructure projects