Ondo trains 100 doctors on healthcare
By Kemi Olatunde
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As part of its resolve to eradicate maternal and child mortality in Ondo State, the state government has began the training of not less than 100 doctors in secondary health facilities on life saving skills.
Declaring open the training exercise yesterday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro who reiterated government determination to improve the quality of health of citizens of the state, noted that most maternal and neonatal deaths result from complications which according to him can be readily treated through existing lifesaving medical and surgical interventions that are relatively inexpensive and should be readily available.
Speaking further, Adegbenro noted that in a recent UNICEF report(2018), Nigeria has been ranked the 11th highest newborn deaths saying “most of these deaths, could have been prevented with access to well trained health workers that can offer lifesaving support needed by the newborn for survival.”
While stressing the need for doctors to know the steps of a quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and also lead its team, the commissioner stated that the role of the physician in emergency care is not only evolving but also expanding.
While commending the training sponsor, Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOML), for its support in increasing utilisation and quality of high impact reproductive, children health and nutrition interventions, he charged participants to avail themselves the opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary skills needed to improve the health sector and added that they should be ready to become change agents in their different facilities so as to prevent untimely deaths.
He added that government will always give necessary support to health workers so as to guarantee effective service delivery.
Speaking earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Hospitals’ Management Board (HMB), Dr. Niran Ikuomola explained that the topic was chosen based on the board’s observation from the mandatory monitoring exercise of the board.
He hinted that the exercise will go a long way in bridging the gap and also improve the quality of health services.
While charging participants on the need to be attentive during the three day exercise, he called for an improvement in the health sector in the coming year.
In his goodwill message, Executive Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu who stated that there is a mismatch between the mortality rate and the calibre of health workers in the state, commended HMB for organizing the training exercise saying “there is need for constant training after the one obtained at the medical school for effective performance.”
While commending the HMB, for building a good health sector in the state, he explained that the state Primary Health Care depends on secondary facilitaties saying “our goal depends on the success and strength of secondary facilities because that is where we refer our patients. Our hope is on the support of these secondary facilities.”
On his part, acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Dino Durojaiye stressed the need to equip participants with necessary skills needed to discharge their duties in order to deal with the various medical challenges.
Project Manager, SOML, Mrs Abiola Ogunika hinted that body, a Federal Ministry of Health initiative which is supported by World Bank, is making frantic effort in reducing maternal and Child mortality in Nigeria.
While speaking further, she expressed the organization’s readiness to partner with HMB in its regular monitoring exercise saying “SOML will be supporting the activities from 2019.