Health

Ogun Government Seeks Support of CDAs On Health Insurance Scheme

By Web News 1372

Ogun State Government wants community leaders and other stakeholders to support the drive to implement the state’s health insurance scheme for effective and qualitative healthcare delivery.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker while addressing leaders of Community Development Associations from the twenty local government areas of the state at the office of the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency in Abeokuta, described the community leaders as crucial stakeholders to the success of the health insurance scheme for the informal sector.

Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Afolabi Dosumu addressing the CDA leaders during the stakeholders’ meeting at the OGSHIA office with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker looking on.

Dr. Coker urged the communities to pull resources together with the government to make healthcare available to the people by assisting them to pay for the health insurance programme.

The health commissioner regretted that Ogun State was lagging behind in the implementation of the health insurance scheme and called for concerted efforts to enrol all residents for the scheme in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Afolabi Dosumu while speaking, appreciated the community leaders for their previous efforts and assured them that the health insurance in the informal sector will reduce the cost expended on treating common illnesses.

Chairman, Zonal CDC, Odogbolu, Mr. Osibemowo Babasola while speaking on behalf of others, assured that they would disseminate the message in their various localities and commended the government for the life-saving intervention in the health sector.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Ogun Govt. Takes Delivery Of Modenna COVID-19 Vaccines

By Web News 579

Ogun State Government says it has taken delivery of 187,426 doses of Modenna COVID-19 vaccines to combat the third wave of the pandemic.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker in a statement made available in Abeokuta explained that the vaccines arrived the state capital during the week.

The commissioner announced that the state will commence the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination exercise next week, targeting adults from 18 years and above. 

Those to receive the vaccine are expected to register by logging on to https:www.vaccination.gov.ng.

The commissioner disclosed that the state had earlier received and installed ultra-cold chain refrigerators to store and preserve the vaccines.

Dr. Coker enjoined the people to “continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical interventions such as wearing nose mask properly when in the public, frequent washing of hands, physical distancing and avoiding large crowds.”

The Ogun State government had in March this year became the first state in the country to receive COVID-19 vaccines from the Federal Government with the receipt of 126,717 doses of Azra-Zeneca brand, out of which about 57,588 persons were successfully vaccinated with both first and second dose in the state. Wale Oluokun

Health

Ogun Govt. Inaugurates 2021 Insecticides Campaign

By Web News 597

Ogun State Government has inaugurated the 2021 insecticides treated nets Campaign Coordination Network aimed at undertaking high-level advocacy and promotion of stakeholder’s engagement on the regular use of insecticides treated nets to prevent malaria disease.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker while inaugurating the Committee in Abeokuta decried the non-use of the insecticides treated by the beneficiaries noting that the Committee members must work hard within the timeline to achieve results.

Correspondent Wale Oluokun has the details

Health

Neglected Diseases: Ogun Trains Community Mobilisers

By Web News 913

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 911

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 1814

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

News

Hypertension is a silent killer – Ogun Commissioner

By Web News 1282

World Health Organisation is to increase awareness about hypertension and Non-Communicable Disease.

The Coordinator of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Organisation, Dr Olatunde Yewande, while speaking in Abeokuta at the Ogun State inauguration of its Hypertension Control Initiative aimed at providing a robust database on the prevalence of hypertension and fine-tune standard protocols for the treatment of the disease.

She said WHO will as well develop the state implementation plans for the action efforts.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, while speaking described hypertension as a form of cardiovascular disease which is a silent killer that claims about 18 million lives globally on a yearly basis.

Dr Coker said the Federal Government in its wisdom chose Ogun and Kano as the two states to drive the pilot test of the initiative in the country, noting that the commitment of the state government towards implementing policies and initiatives that will lead to better societal “heart health” was second to none.

The commissioner said the initiative which is geared towards early detection and treatment of hypertension in six local government areas of the state will help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease among the residents of the state.

Dr Coker pointed out that the inauguration of the committee which coincided with the commemoration of the 2020 World Heart Day with the theme, ”Use heart to beat cardiovascular disease”, was apt at a time the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Make staffing, equipping of PHCs a priority – Ogun Speaker

By Web News 764

Ogun State Ministry of Health has been charged to accord priority to equipping and staffing of Primary Health Care facilities and sensitize residents of rural communities on the importance of accessing health services. 

The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, OGHA, Mr Olakunle Oluomo made the call at an interactive session with the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker on the operational plan of the health ministry to access 2.5 billion Naira credit facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria.  

Earlier in her submission, the commissioner said the state government had embarked on the renovation and procurement of the state of the art facilities to boost healthcare delivery at all levels. 

Dr Coker explained that 236 health centres being renovated across the state would be provided with technological and medical equipment, while additional corps doctors and other categories of health workers would be recruited to boost manpower operation at the centres.

Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Health

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

By Web News 783

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