Four governorship candidates in Ogun State on Wednesday scored the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration low in the area of healthcare delivery in the state.
The candidates include that of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prince Gboyega Nasir Gboyega; the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Hon. Dimeji Bankole and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Segun Odegbami, gave the submission when they were asked to appraise the state health sector, at an interactive session organised by the State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)Â for gubernatorial candidates in the March 2 election.
The duo of Akinlade and Abiodun were represented by their deputy governorship candidates, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo and Engr (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
The session was chaired by the chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu.
Isiaka bemoaned the state of health facilities across the state and inadequate personnel to deliver effective healthcare delivery system for the people of the state.
The ADC candidate promised that his government if elected, would ensure the workability of the National Health Insurance Scheme at the state level in the overall interest of the state.
“Health facilities in the state are not in good shape. There are no adequate personnel to provide quality healthcare services to the people. Health is number two on my party’s agenda,” he added.
While the APC candidate promised total overhauling of the state health sector and more importantly, placing priority on health workers welfare.
Abiodun said its government would work within available resources of the state to improve on the state health care services.
In his submission, Akinlade equally agreed on the fact that the healthcare system of the state must be upgraded upon and that his government would provide quality healthcare by making it accessible and affordable for the people.
He identified social welfare as key in meeting the needs of the vulnerable ones in the society, saying that the APM government would put in place policies that would favour the people.
Bankole described the state of the healthcare as a “total mess”.
He said the state government has not been able to finance the healthcare the way it should be while insisting that the NHIS scheme is one of the way forward to solve health issues.
Odegbami of ZLP lamented that health is not listed as a priority in the state, hence the need to domesticate the healthcare design.
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He said that the state of healthcare in the state is “designed for people to die”.
He added that his administration would plan to reduce the health bill of the people, saying “health is my major priority, followed by education”.
The state NMA Chairman, Dr Ismail Lawal, said the body through the session had gotten a booklet of what the people of the state should expect of anyone who emerges.
He urged the winner to organise a stakeholders meeting or forum which would constitute the body of professionals.
Awolowo-Dosunmu commended all the participants, saying they have spoken in specific terms, what they intend to do when voted into power.
She appreciated them for the measure of respect they have for the NMA to have attended the debate.
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