By Kemi Olatunde

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Ondo State Government has flagged off distribution of health commodities to secondary and tertiary facilities to improve healthcare services in the hospitals.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka while flagging off the distribution of the  commodities at the permanent site of the Ondo State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency in Ondo Road, Akure, said the agency which has come to stay would ensure uninterrupted supply of Health Commodities in all facilities in the state.

He explained that all government secondary facilities, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Ondo and Akure and some other selected government owned clinics in the state benefitted from the massive distribution of the commodities

Dr Ajaka described the agency as very essential in harmonising all health commodities to ensure accountability and transparency, while noting that the introduction of the Contributory Health Commission and the Drug Management Agency would take the Health sector in the state to the highest peak.

He congratulated the people of the state for the new initiative of government as it would afford them unfettered access to quality and healthcare commodities.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof Dayo Faduyile while giving his goodwill message called for the sustenance of the Agency as it would improve the frontiers of the health sector in the state and the country at large.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharm ( Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola explained that Drug management Agency was in line with global best practices in supply chain management of drugs and health commodities, and it was mainly established to ensure uninterrupted supply of drugs and health commodities in the facilities.

She noted that the National Council on Health (NCH) ratified all states to establish the Drug management Agency and the law establishing the Agency in Ondo state had been passed by the House of Assembly since July 2021

Pharm Aladenola announced that the agency has now become full operational as it has now moved to its administrative block situated at  the former Medical store in Ondo Road.

The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Pharm (Dr) Amos Ayegbusi said the health commodities distributed to facilities were beds, equipment such as resuscitator, gynecological and surgical equipment, pulse oximetre ultrasound machine, phytotherapy machines, and incubators,scissors, stethoscopes, wheel chairs drugs and other consumables.