Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has regretted how the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic scuttled his plans to renovate 236 primary health care centres in the state.
According to Gov Abiodun, the COVID-19 pandemic was a surprise to him because it happened just as he was beginning to roll out plans to reform the state’s health facilities, which he said would begin with the 236 primary health care centres.
“This pandemic is a surprise to everybody. This happened just as we were beginning to roll out plans for total reform of our health facilities beginning with 236 Primary Health Care Centres,” Abiodun said.
It would be recalled that Abiodun, after his inauguration, promised to renovate or build at least, one health care centre in each of the 236 wards of Ogun within his first 100 days in office.
He came under heavy criticisms when he was not able to fulfill the promise in his first 100 days as the governor of the Gateway state.
By May 29, 2020, Abiodun would have completed his first year as the governor of Ogun.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives of health workers in the state at his Office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun said “prior to the out break of COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation of hospitals had commenced with 236 Primary Health Care Centres across the State.”
The meeting was coming on the heels of a three-day warning strike declared by resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) on Sunday.
At the meeting, Abiodun appealed to the health officers not to allow issues degenerate, asking them to keep communication open with his government.
In a statement made available to our correspondent on Saturday, Abiodun promised the state health workers that his administration will put in place life insurance policy for them, while also reviewing their hazard allowance from 200 to 300 percent.
“I want to inform you that we have put in place life policy for our health workers. We would have started immediately, but we will wait to go along with the Federal government which is also planning similar programme”, he said.
The Governor stated that his administration was determined to provide adequate health care services to the people.
He added that health workers would be appropriately accommodated in the new minimum wage.
Governor Abiodun said he was impressed with the spirit of negotiation, adding that their requests and resolutions with government was a pointer to the fact that they were concerned with what was going on in the health sector.
Speaking on the warning strike, he said “What transpired was because we have not been engaging each other as much as possible. I am impressed with the spirit of negotiation. Your requests and resolutions point to the fact that our health workers are concerned with what is happening in the health sector”, the Governor noted.
He appreciated the health personnel, particularly those tackling the coronavirus, assuring them that Personal Protective Equipment and other accessories needed to perform their duties effectively, would be made available.
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