The Ondo State Government has urged health workers in the state to portray the sector positively to attract more patronage and foster development.
This call was made by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, during a courtesy visit to the state Hospitals Management Board (HMB) in Akure.
Prof. Odimayo commended the HMB for its dedication to improving healthcare delivery, noting that its efforts have strengthened the state’s secondary health facilities. He said, “The government has constituted the board to improve the health sector, and I appreciate the specific efforts made by the board members. Your dedication, demonstrated through visits to various facilities and collaborations with agencies, is commendable.”
He emphasized the government’s significant investment in the health sector, particularly in improving workers’ welfare, adding that the recent approval of salary increases for health workers reflects Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to retaining and attracting more professionals to the state.
Odimayo assured the board of the administration’s support in addressing key challenges, including providing ambulances, renovating the HMB building, and acquiring essential equipment. He called on investors to contribute to the sector’s growth and productivity.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the HMB, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, expressed gratitude to the government for its support and commended the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Ayodele Ojo, for making the work easier for members.
Fasoranti highlighted the board’s efforts, including visits to secondary health facilities in Akure and engagements with the State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency and the State Contributory Health Commission. He noted that these collaborations aim to strengthen healthcare delivery and encourage more people to enroll in the state health insurance scheme.
“Our board is determined to raise the standards of secondary health facilities in Ondo State to unprecedented levels,”
“However, we face challenges such as inadequate funding, lack of ambulances, and the need for renovations at the board’s building. We are appealing to the government for urgent intervention.” Dr. Fasoranti said.
Fasoranti also stressed the importance of enacting a coroner’s law in the state, which he said would enhance the delivery of healthcare services. He called for additional support in transportation to facilitate the board’s planned visits to health facilities in other Local Government Areas.
Other board members echoed these concerns. Nurse Arinola Patience Adamolekun advocated for the employment of more health workers and the absorption of casual workers into the system, while Pharmacist Taiwo Adefurin called for empowering the board to enhance its monitoring role.
The Permanent Secretary of the HMB, Dr. Ayodele Ojo, emphasized the need for special interventions in secondary healthcare to ensure the system functions effectively. He called for eliminating salary disparities among health workers to prevent internal migration within the state.
With the current leadership of the HMB, Fasoranti assured that Ondo State’s healthcare system is poised for significant advancements, urging all stakeholders to contribute to the shared vision of a robust and efficient health sector.
