…as drug management agency moves to permanent site

By Kemi Olatunde 

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

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka while flagging off the distribution of the health commodities at the permanent site of the Ondo State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency in Ondo Road Akure said the agency which had 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 health 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 managment 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 commissioner appreciated the governor of Ondo State Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu for the support for the kick off of the Agency.

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.

He appreciated the Governor and the management of the Ministry of Health for bringing back to life the abandoned Central Medical store.

” Those of us who used to be here know what this place used to be, the Central Medical store, it was largely abandoned but today it has come back to life, we believe great things will happen in this place”

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 

The Accounting officer aknowledged that about 19 states in the federation have established the Drug Management Agency and Ondo state law was adjudged as one of the best in the country.

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

Explaining what the Agency has been able to achieve she said they had been able to harmonise all public health programs commodities in the state inside the Central Medical Store for end to end data visibility and accountability while describing it as a great feat.

The Permanent Secretary lauded the political will of the Governor of Ondo State , Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu in establishing the Agency.

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