From Fisayo Akinduro,  Osogbo
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Osun State Government has assured of its commitment towards boosting healthcare delivery system in the state.

The  state Governor, Gboyega Oyetola said this during the flag-off ceremony of Iree Township Ambulance Point, held at the Hospital’s l Management Board, Comprehensive Health Center, Iree.

Represented by the Supervisor for Health, Dr  Rafiu Isamotu, the governor emphasised that government would  not relent in its effort  at ensuring that necessary personnel and medical equipment are made available in its provision of good health care delivery in all health facilities in the state.

He said: “No matter how interior the community might be, medical emergency and referrals via the Osun Ambulance Services will not be limited.

The Governor also announced the plans to bring back to life medical structures that needed to be resuscitated at the nooks and crannies of the state, thereby making it a good legacy for the government and for future reference.

Oyetola solicited the support of the community in ensuring protection of the paramedics and ambulances given to the community in the line of duty as  he promised dividends of democracy to all.

Earlier, the General Manager, Osun Ambulance Services Agency,  Dr Olusegun Babatunde stated that the provision of ambulance for Iree community, was due to the volatile population of students in the community, and  is  geared towards reducing casualty rate in the state.

Babatunde stated that with the advent of Osun Ambulance Services, neglect of accident casualties or victims had been brought to the barest minimum with the quick response of O’Ambulance medical emergency and referral from the point of contact to the primary or secondary place of medical treatment.

He also affirmed that till date, the agency had  rescued over 20,000 patients with its trained paramedics personnel located at strategic points of the state, as the effort of Governor Oyetola to  take  health service delivery to the entire citizenry of the state cannot be over-emphasized.

Stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony included the Aree-in-council led by the Regent of the town, Chief Jimoh Salami, the management of Osun State Polytechnic led by the Rector, Dr Olusola Agboola, the Senior Medical Officer of Hospita’s l Management Board Comprehensive Health Center of the government, the Iree Progressive Association, the Babaloja and Iyaloja, drivers and students.

405 Ekiti residents for free cataract surgery

From  Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

No fewer than  four hundred and five (405) residents of Ekiti state are expected to benefit from a free cataract surgery organised by the Ekiti State Government.

Speaking at the flag-off  ceremony of the  programme, the Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, represented by his Deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, said the programme was part of the activities of his administration towards the delivery of free healthcare  to the residents.

Fayemi explained that his administration was partnering with the Federal Government and the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria under the Ekiti Free Cataract Surgery  Programme to restore the sight of the patients.

The surgery was going on simultaneously at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti; State Specialist, Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti and the  Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.

He  further explained that the gesture was aimed at addressing the burden of increasing blindness from cataract and assist residents who are financially handicapped to sponsor their treatment.

The Governor noted that an average of 250 surgeries were to be carried out per state, but that of Ekiti was increased to 405 to give more cataract patients in the state opportunity to benefit from the scheme.

The governor  disclosed that Ado, Ikere and Ido were carefully chosen as centres cutting across the three senatorial districts to make the scheme accessible to people in the grassroots.

Fayemi disclosed that 200 of the cases were screened during the first phase of his administration’s Free Health Mission which provided medical services to 67,000 people across the  11 local government areas visited.

Describing cataract as a leading cause of blindness, Fayemi disclosed that 4.25 million Nigerian adults aged above 40 are visually impaired, while 5.5 percent of adults aged 50 and above are estimated to be blind.

He explained that government was tackling cataract headlong by offering to sponsor the surgery and help the patients overcome financial constraints to restore their vision.

Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Folake Olomojobi, explained that the free cataract surgery programme was part of Governor Fayemi’s Free Health Mission aimed at sustaining a healthy state.

She revealed that each cataract surgery costs N50,000 outside post-surgery expenses which had been borne by the state government.

Mrs. Olomojobi disclosed that the surgery was being performed by indigenous cataract surgeons adding that the scheme was geared towards achieving ‘once I was blind and now I can see testimony.