Environment

Ogun Govt. Begins Free Lead Poisoning Tests in Ogijo

By Web News 332

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The Ogun State Government has announced free lead poisoning tests for residents of Ogijo following allegations of contamination linked to seven sealed Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling factories.

Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this during a meeting with Ogijo Community Development Associations at the Ologijo Palace.

She said a fully equipped Lead Testing Centre staffed with medical experts has been established at Ogijo Primary Health Centre, with testing to begin Monday, December 1, 2025.

Dr Coker urged community leaders to mobilize residents, stressing that the Dapo Abiodun administration prioritizes citizens’ health and that early detection is vital to preventing long-term effects of lead exposure.

Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, announced an immediate comprehensive process audit of the seven ULAB plants and nearby steel industries, warning that non-compliant facilities would remain shut until they meet updated environmental standards.

Responding on behalf of the Ologijo of Ogijo, Oba Kazeem Olaonipekun Gbadamosi, the Lisa of Ogijo, Chief Sunday Lawal, commended the government for its prompt action and the provision of free testing for residents.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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Health

Cholera Breaks out in Ogun

By Web News 1059

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke 

Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Health has announced the Outbreak of Cholera in the Ijebu North Local Government area of the State. 

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Tomi Coker indicated that Cholera was known to occur during raining seasons and might also be associated with poor environment and personal hygiene.

Dr Coker stressed that the epidemic which commonly present with stooling with or without vomiting leading to dehydration, might result  to death if the severe dehydration was not promptly corrected.

The State Government therefore implored  citizens  to ensure proper personal and environmental hygiene, with frequent washing of  hands  when necessary.

The Statement also enjoined residents to ensure the sources of their water before use, and Report all cases of Stooling with or without vomiting to the nearest government health facility and notify the LGA or Call (08069788449) for further details.

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Lifestyle

Health Commissioner Seeks Support Towards Eradicating Open Defecation

By Web News 583

Nigerians have been encouraged to join the fight against open defecation in their communities to reduce the cases of diarrhoea, cholera, Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, and other public health ailments.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker gave this advice at the inauguration of a twin-toilet facility which she facilitated for the Ikeye people of Gbagura in Abeokuta North Local Government alongside her former classmates in the School of Policy, Politics and Governance.

Dr Coker noted that open defecation has become a menace which every inhabitant in the country should strive against, noting that many children and pregnant women had been sent to an early grave as a result of its consequences.

She acknowledged that Abeokuta North was prominent for open defecation in the country, hence the reason for her decision with about seven of her former coursemates from the Public Health Sector in different parts of the world to erect the facility within the Ikeye locality.

In a remark, the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Sabur Bakre who was represented by the Balogun Ijaye Kukudi, Chief Rasak Obe, said the project would go a long way in reducing open defecation around the area and expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for Health and her course mates for the donation.

Also, the Chairman, Community Development Council, Irewolede Area, Mr AbdulFatai appreciated the timely donation and assured that residents would not fail to ensure the proper use of the toilet.

The donated toilet has two chambers, a pumping machine and water sources to ensure hygienic usage of the facility and promote hand washing among its beneficiaries in the community.

Olusegun Folarin

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Politics

Budget: Ogun Health Ministry Defends its 9.306bn Naira Proposal

By Web News 530

Ogun State Ministry of Health says its 2023 budget objectives will be to develop strategic and operational plans for the three levels of the health sector, in addition to monitoring the implementation and evaluation of the approved plan.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker stated this while defending the budget proposal of the ministry before the members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, OGHA Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Mr Kunle Sobukanla during the ongoing budget defence at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Dr Coker stressed that the plans would be based on the principles of “people, prevention and proven intervention” for the well-being of residents.

The commissioner also assured improved health status for the people of the state through the provision of quality public health services.

A budget of 9.306 billion naira was presented by the health ministry as the total expenditure for the next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also considered the 2023 budget proposals of the Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, and the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board among other affiliated agencies.

Oluwatoyin Adegoke 

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Health

Ogun Govt. Commences Administration of Covid-19 Vaccine

By Web News 871

Ogun State Government is to commence the administration of Covid-19 vaccination in line with the guidelines from the National Primary Health Care Agency to eligible residents across the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, who stated this in a statement, said administration of the vaccine was part of the efforts to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in collaboration with Development Partners.

Dr Coker said the exercise would begin on Monday through Wednesday, 24th 2021 for all front line workers across the 20 Local Government Areas in the state.

She encouraged the eligible residents to register online through nphcdaict.com.ng/publicreg and select the nearest health facility to them as their vaccination site to get vaccinated during the exercise.

Olusegun Folarin

Health

Governor Abiodun Approves Renovation Of OOUTH

By Web News 910

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the renovation and refurbishment of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Governor Abiodun gave the approval at the Executive Chambers, Oke Mosan Abeokuta while receiving a preliminary report on the hospital from the Governing Board led by the Chairman, Dr Kunle Hassan.

While pointing out that his administration would reposition and restructure the teaching hospital to meet international best practices, the governor said the hospital would be more digitalized for better data capturing and record keeping.

Governor Abiodun who expressed satisfaction with the findings and recommendations of the governing board of the hospital, said the recommendations would bring about a new improved teaching hospital.

Also, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker said the state government would ensure total overhauling of various sections in the hospital towards providing qualitative healthcare services.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr. Kunle Hassan had said that the findings and recommendations of the board would reposition the hospital and called on the governor to continue to support the board.

Bolanle Adesida

Health

Neglected Diseases: Ogun Trains Community Mobilisers

By Web News 905

As the world marks the day set aside for neglected tropical diseases, the Ogun State government has trained community mobilisers including teachers to sensitize households on the diseases.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Doctor Tomi Coker made this known in Abeokuta while briefing newsmen on the commemoration of the day by the ministry.

The commissioner stated that eighty per cent of the Ogun State population were at the risk of having onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis while Abeokuta North and Odeda Local Government Areas have the highest prevalence of Schistosomiasis in Nigeria quoting the report of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Doctor Coker who noted that the diseases are preventable and curable stated that the state government would continue to collaborate with relevant bodies to ensure that the people are sensitised to end the neglect of tropical diseases.

Representatives of the supporting partners of the Ogun State Ministry of Health in their various remarks commended the state government on its handling of various interventions in the state.

Six of the seventeen diseases classified as neglected tropical diseases are prevalent in Ogun State which includes Onchocerciasis, Inarun, Lymphatic Filariasis, Iwuse, Schistosomiasis, Atosi Aja, Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis, Aran Inu, Leprosy, Ete, And Buruli Ulcer, Egbo Adaajina.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Be alert for an outbreak of dry season-related diseases – Ogun Health Commissioner

By Web News 896

The Ogun State Government has called on all residents to be at alert for possible diseases of public health concern which are common during the dry season. 

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, in statement made available in Abeokuta, explained that diseases like Yellow Fever, Measles and particularly Cholera, which is a water and food borne disease, are rampant in the dry season.

According to her, Cholera is characterised by severe vomiting and diarrhea which can cause rapid deterioration of health and death, if not managed in a timely manner.

The commissioner advised residents with symptoms to seek immediate help from the nearest health facility, noting that early case detection and proper management could save lives. 

The Commissioner for Health explained that the reported case of the unfortunate demise of two school age children from the same school and same compound due to Gastroenteritis suggests a possible water borne disease, cholera.

Dr. Coker confirmed that the investigation led by herself with officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and Abeokuta South Local Government had revealed that the children died of severe case of vomiting and diarrhea and not as a result of deworming exercise which is ongoing in the state.

It would be recalled that two female pupils of Saint James African Church School, Idi Ape, Abeokuta were reported dead.

The deaths had led to the speculation that the deworm drug administered on the children in the school led to the incident.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Ogun State Government Moves to Improve Healthcare Delivery

By Web News 1800

A five-day workshop has been organised to improve the implementation of the Ogun State Strategic Health Development Plan which has not been performing well.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker while declaring the workshop open in Abeokuta, said a review report had revealed that funding had prevented the implementation of the development plan in the last two years.

Correspondent Wale Oluokun has the details.

The five day workshop has in attendance various partners of the Ogun State Health Ministry including UNICEF with the aim of defining the present state of the health sector in the state in line with the five year plan starting from year 2018 ending in 2022.

The workshop was to enable the setting up of the Annual Operational Plan to define the trajectory, the road-map and timeline for getting to the desired state in the health sector. 

According to the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, the workshop was an important tool for translating government intentions and policies into tangible actions. 

Dr. Coker said it will help to define trajectory, the road-map and timeline for getting to the desired destination of the health sector in Ogun state.

The commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the report indicating that 49% of the developed health interventions are still at 0% level of implementation.

That 37% interventions were at less than 50% implementation while 12% interventions were at above 50% level of implementation and just only 2% of all interventions were 100% implemented noting that the data shows that the state was not doing well in that regard.

Dr. Coker said there are 50 areas of interventions in the plan which include maternal and child health, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, family planning uptake, immunization and infrastructure among others, which the state will pursue vigorously without leaving any stone unturned.

In his remarks, the Head, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Angus Ikpe, commended Ogun State government for ensuring that the Annual Operational Plan workshop becomes a reality, pointing out that the plan will support the efforts of the sector in the coming year.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Ogun Govt. Inspects Religious Facilities Ahead of Resumption of Worship Services

By Web News 778

Ogun State Government has raised a delegation for assessment visits to facilities of religious organizations across the state to ascertain their level of preparedness ahead of reopening. 

The government’s delegation comprised of the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker and her counterparts in Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tunji Odunlami, as well as that of Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.

The team had inspected necessary facilities and preventive equipment provided by churches and mosques located in Ijebu, Remo and Egba divisions of the state before the commencement worship activities. 

Addressing journalists after the visit, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Coker conveyed messages of mixed reactions from the religious bodies on their level of preparedness.

She explained that some religious leaders expressed readiness to guarantee the safety of congregants from the COVID-19 pandemic while others were still struggling to comply with the laid down protocols.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Abudu-Balogun, commended some of the worship centres for their level of preparedness towards reopening.

In separate remarks, the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Gbadegesin Ayanbadejo and the Cathedral Administrator, St. Sebastian’s Cathedral, Odo-Egbo, Ijebu Ode, the Reverend Father Vincent Ajayi restated their resolve to sustain the efforts towards containing the spread of COVID-19.

Oluremi Olugbenro