The Oyo State Government has kick-started the equipping of the 351 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state with new power generating sets.
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, disclosed this in a Wednesday statement emailed to The Herald.
According to the statement, during a symbolic presentation of 97 generating sets to some primary healthcare centres, in Ibadan, the Engineering Technical Lead of PHCs Renovation Committee, Engr. Ademola Aderinto said henceforth PHCs would be powered by an alternative source, to mitigate the impact of disruption of power supply by the electricity provider.
Aderinto, who is the Special Assistant on Environment to the Governor, said the aim of Governor Seyi Makinde was to ensure that the 351 primary healthcare centres in Oyo State were equipped for the comfort of patients.
He added that part of the project’s goal was to deliver generators for electricity supply to all renovated centres.
Aderinto added that the Oyo State Government has sunk boreholes to ensure a steady supply of water not only to the PHCs but also to the community through taps placed outside the PHCs.
Aderinto said the governor’s vision vision was to make healthcare more accessible and equitable to all residents of the state
“Part of this vision is the renovation/upgrade of one (1) Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) per ward (there are 351 wards in Oyo state) to the standard category three (3) PHC. This project that began in 2021, has resulted in over 206 newly renovated PHCs, as well as many newly built PHCs”, he said.
“This project was initiated by the Oyo State Governor’s Office in collaboration with the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board and the Oyo State Ministry of Health and is led by the Special Adviser to the Governor Health, Dr. Funmi Salami, as the Project Lead and Chairperson of the Renovation Committee”.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the aim of the government was to make healthcare available to all Oyo residents.
Olatunji said the project was executed to ensure quality health service delivery at the centre.
He thanked Dominant Engineering, which upgraded/ built new 99 PHCs, for handing over 97 generators to the PHCs.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Ward Development Committee (WDC), Mr. Abdulfatah Oloyede said the initiative has been well-received by Oyo state communities.
He thanked the Oyo State Government for the gesture, adding that WDCs, an apolitical group, applauded it.
The event was graced by the Chairman, ALGON and Egbeda Local Government Area, Hon. Sikiru Sanda who appealed to residents to reciprocate Governor Makinde’s gesture with massive votes.
Also present was the Chairman, Ibadan North Local Government, Saheed Oladayo Yusuf among others.