FG commissions health centre in Ondo community

IN furtherance of its goal of making health care more accessible to the rural communities of the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government has commissioned a new health centre at Ode Ugbo community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Health Centre, which was commissioned by the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Daramola, was in continuation of the Ministry’s Quick Win Intervention Projects initiative that commenced in 2017. The initiative is geared towards making health care more accessible to the rural areas of the Niger Delta region.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Community Development and Education( CDE) in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs, Lauren Braide, said that four similar projects had been completed and were ready for use in other states of the region.

Omoleye, who credited the project to the Change Agenda of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed that more health centres were still being constructed, with more to be added as soon as the 2019 appropriation bill is passed into law.

However, the Minister called on indigenes and residents of the region to support the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the quality of life in the region by maximally utilising the health facilities.

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Omoleye who urged them to ensure the protection, as well as maintenance of the equipment provided, added that the Ministry would continue to ‘give prime attention to its commitment in Ondo State.’

In his remarks, Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by the State’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, thanked the Federal Government for the edifice in Ode Ugbo community and since the importance of good health cannot be overemphasised, the Governor called for the establishment of more health facilities in the state, especially those with theatre and maternity rooms.

Akeredolu also urged the Federal Government to see to the total completion of the project by ensuring that the proper staff and equipment are put in place and well utilised.

The traditional ruler of the community, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Frederick Entiolorunda Obateru Akinruntan, thanked Government for the project but urged it not to abandon it halfway.

He said that there was a great need for the health centre to be made functional as qualified health personnel were urgently needed in the community.

The traditional ruler, who was represented by the Asogbon of Ugbo land and Secretary of Ugboland, Demebi Isaiah Adewole, urged the government to employ workers from the community as it had indigenes who are well qualified to work with the health facility.

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aliyu Aminu Bisalla, represented by Architect Agbubala Tsoken, Coordinator of the Ondo State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, thanked those involved for the speedy completion of the project as it was done in 4 months.

He urged residents of the community to see the project as one of the legacies of the present administration in addition to ensuring that it is maintained and ‘judiciously used’.

In his remarks, Comrade Demehin Gbenga, Chairman, Federation Ugbo Kingdom Youths expressed appreciation for the health facility but asked for more efforts to be put into satisfying the yearnings of the youths for more employment opportunities. He stressed that it was paramount that this was done as the community lagged behind in terms of development and security in Ondo State.