By Kemi Olatunde

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Ondo state has emerged winner of the primary healthcare leadership challenge, carting home a whooping sum of five hundred thousand dollars (N213,710.000.00) as the prize.

The primary healthcare leadership challenge Fund is a prominent initiative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) aimed at revitalising the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy in Nigeria.

The Challenge is a collaborative initiative involving the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Dangote Foundation, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge The programme seeks to optimise the dedication of state governors to advancing a gradual augmentation in PHC financing as well as guaranteeing that all primary healthcare facilities possess the necessary human resource proficiency.

Ondo state stood tall at the presentation ceremony  held in Abuja with the Permanent Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Francis Adegoke Akanbiemu representing the state at the occasion.

Speaking on the achievement,  Dr Akanbiemu explained that the huge feat was as a result of the conscious and intentional efforts of the Ondo State Government led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu within the health sector which was now yielding good dividends and nation-wide applause.

Dr Akanbiemu commended Governor Akeredolu for empowering the health sector and for strengthening primary healthcare especially in the area of vaccination which he noted had earned the state more recognition.

He noted “1n 2022, We needed generator for our cold chain system and we immediately ran to Mr Governor and told him we needed two more generators, 100KVA each, without argument, he approved it and we bought those generators, as I speak to you today, people are saying they’ve never seeing a cold chain that is as good as the one in Ondo State and the governor ensures that money is released monthly to buy diesel to power the generator.”.

The Permanent Secretary however noted that the money that came with the award would be invested in provision of more vaccines and quality healthcare services to the people of Ondo state.

 “The money belongs to Ondo State people, the governor does not tamper with the money meant for healthcare services,  so the 500,000 dollars is to meant to provide more vaccination, more services, not a national cake” Akanbiemu  declared.