… score 90 percent immunization coverage

… 96 percent in the National Health Performance Scorecard

… 2nd in 17 Southern States

By Kemi Olatunde

|

Health programmes in Ondo State are initiatives put in place to safeguard and improve public health. They are designed to address a wide range of health challenges, from disease prevention to providing access to healthcare services for residents of the state. By investing in healthcare and other services, the government aims to enhance the overall well-being of the people. Some of these programmes have helped prevent diseases before they occur, through public awareness campaigns, immunization drives, health screenings, and lifestyle education. Common examples include vaccination programs for diseases like measles, flu, and polio.

There are also some which target maternal and child health. These programmes focus on improving the health of mothers and children by providing prenatal care, safe delivery services, immunization for infants, and nutrition support for children, which helps reduce maternal and child mortality rates.

The state is moving towards the attainment of universal Health Coverage (UHC), through the various insurance products of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) one of which is the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) which is both for public servants and the insurance sector. Many governments implement health insurance schemes or publicly funded healthcare systems to ensure that all citizens, regardless of income, can access necessary medical services without financial hardship government often runs disease-specific programmes aimed at tackling particular health threats, such as cancer awareness campaigns, HIV prevention programmes, mental health support, and anti-smoking campaigns.

The government has been investing in expanding and upgrading healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, and rural health centers, ensuring that healthcare services are accessible to people across all regions, particularly in rural or remote areas. The ongoing construction at The University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) attests to this.

The state Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at a recent function assured the people of the state that his administration remains committed to upgrading the state’s healthcare infrastructure.

He mentioned the ongoing construction of 250-bed hospitals in Akure and Ondo, the recent recruitment of healthcare workers, and the enhancement of doctors’ salaries to retain medical personnel among others while also promising the timely completion of the construction exercise.

At the Primary Health Care (PHC) level, the government is revitalizing 102 PHC facilities to ensure effective service delivery. Additionally, 216 laptops have been distributed to 203 Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities and 13 local government areas that previously lacked functional laptops for Health Management Information Officers. Training on the use of the laptops followed the distribution.

There is also the government’s readiness to recruit more health workers into the PHC system to enhance the health sector.

The government is revitalizing 102 PHC facilities to ensure effective service delivery. Additionally, 216 laptops have been distributed to 203 Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities and 13 local government areas that previously lacked functional laptops for Health Management Information Officers. Training on the use of the laptops followed the distribution.

The government is set to recruit more health workers into the PHC system to enhance the health sector.

Public Health Emergencies: In the event of pandemics or health crises, the government implements emergency health programmes to control the spread of diseases, provide medical care, conduct testing, and enforce public health measures such as quarantine and social distancing.

Through these various initiatives, government health programs strive to reduce health disparities, promote long-term wellness, and ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they need, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Preventive Health Programmes:

Prevention is a cornerstone of many government health strategies. These programmes aim to reduce the burden of diseases by focusing on early detection and lifestyle changes that promote health.

There is also the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine for girls between age 9 and 14 years which has become a routine immunisation in the state. It is given freely to beneficiaries in all health facilities across the state.

 During a recent event in the state, Chairman, of the Ondo State House Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. (Dr) Chris Ogunlana, described the Primary Health Care (PHC) system as the gateway to achieving universal health coverage in the country.

He noted that the PHC as a result of its proximity to the people is the first point of call in case of any health challenge. While speaking, Permanent Secretary, of Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu highlighted some achievements of the Agency in recent years including the attainment of 90 percent immunization coverage, the best PHC in leadership challenge award in South West, the best State in Cold Chain management in the country, best in Outbreak response and best in Measles Campaign performance. Other outstanding achievements  according to Dr. Akanbiemu, were the Ondo State PHC system is the first in the country to have standard Medical Laboratories as well as high-tech ultrasound machines in all the local governments of the state.

He noted that Ondo State is one of the first states to key into the Federal government policy of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and as at present it has moved from 66 percent in 2015 to 96 percent in the National PHUOR Performance Scorecard done in 2022 ranking 2nd in the whole 17 Southern States of Nigeria and first in the Southwest.

Health Education: Public health education campaigns aim to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles, including proper hygiene, safe sexual practices, the dangers of smoking, alcohol, and drug use, and the importance of physical activity and mental well-being.

Maternal and Child Health Programmes:

Governments prioritize the health of mothers and children to ensure a healthy start to life. These programs often include:

Prenatal and Postnatal Care: Providing medical care, education, and support for pregnant women to ensure healthy pregnancies, safe childbirth, and proper post-birth care for mothers and infants.

Infant Immunization Programmes: Ensuring that infants are vaccinated on time against preventable diseases to reduce mortality rates and protect public health.

Nutrition Programs for Children: These programs address malnutrition by providing food supplements, micronutrients, and education on healthy diets for young children. Which is mostly carried out by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA).

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Programmes:

Universal Health Coverage is a critical goal for many governments, aiming to provide all citizens with access to necessary healthcare services without the financial burden. Insurance has come to stay in the state as more citizens are expected to benefit from it.

In attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the state, the State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) has a mandate of providing health insurance coverage for all residents of the state through the Abiyamo Scheme which is for pregnant women and children under five years of age, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Program (BHCPFP) Ilera Loro Scheme which is for widows, the elderly, retirees, women of reproductive age, sickle cell warriors, etc., the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) Formal; for public servants and political office holders, and ORANGHIS Informal; for the informal and organized private sector as the health insurance plans of the state’s contributory health scheme.

At a recent event, the Director-General, of ODCHC, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin hinted that, in the recently published national statistics on health, Ondo State has the lowest infant mortality rate across the country noting that ODCHC was recently awarded one of the best-performing MDAs in the state during Public Service Week by the Head of Service of Ondo State, saying, “The award is a recognition and testament of the services they deliver at the facilities.”

A few weeks ago, Pregnant women and children under five in the state were enrolled in the state’s Vulnerable Population Programme.

Director-General, ODCHC, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin while monitoring the enrolment exercise of beneficiaries at the Primary Health Care Centre, Oke Mapo, Owo, explained that the Vulnerable Population Programme is a state government initiative under the ODCHC, in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

According to him, the scheme aimed at enrolling 18,000 pregnant women and children under five across health facilities in the state to ensure access to quality healthcare, in line with the mandate of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

“As you may recall, under our ‘Ease’ strategy, the E stands for Effective Healthcare and Socio-Economic Welfare. The state government is committed to ensuring that everyone, especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children under five, has health insurance coverage. This will guarantee access to quality healthcare, promote safe deliveries, and reduce maternal and infant mortality in Ondo State,” he stated.

Oyeneyin highlighted that the latest National Health and Demographic Survey ranked Ondo State with the lowest under-five mortality rate in the country, attributing the feat to the efforts of the state government, the Ministry of Health, ODCHC, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other partners prioritizing healthcare.

Commending Governor Aiyedatiwa for his unwavering support, he urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the government’s health programmes.

The government has made antenatal care, and delivery, including cesarean sections completely free for indigent pregnant women and children under five. This is why, through the ongoing Abiyamo programme, (which is an insurance cover for pregnant women and under five children too) the state has recorded over 70,000 safe deliveries.

The above are just a few of the numerous government programmes which have been beneficial to residents of the state.