Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Wednesday called on government at all levels to consistently invest in the health sector, especially, the primary healthcare aspect of the sector because of its direct importance to the people.

He asked the governments to assist viable research proposals which touch on improvement of medical practice in the country.

Akeredolu, who spoke during the Silver Jubilee Award Ceremonies of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, urged the governments to encourage medical personnel to attend programmes designed for capacity building.
The governor added that environment should be made conducive and friendly to enable students of medical sciences and other health personnel to acquire necessary capacity and training to solve related problems.

He said: “Their training should not stop at mere award of certificates. Our curricula must aim at addressing the challenges faced by the people in our environment.”

While congratulating the Faculty of Basic Medical Science on its remarkable achievements, especially, for sustaining the tradition of excellence in training and research, Akeredolu called on those entrusted with sacred duty of service to the public to renew their dedication for more positive results.

The governor said: “I am delighted to know that the Faculty contributed, immensely, to the development of the teaching and practice of Medicine since inception.

“The number of graduates, postgraduates and research experts produced in the various field of Medicine is sufficient cause for celebration. The boldness with which the members of this Faculty put forth their claims on positive contributions should challenge stragglers.

“This reality should serve as a wake-up call for other institutions where serious research endeavours have been relegated for extraneous activities which do not add value to the academia.”

While receiving the Faculty’s Silver Jubilee Award on behalf of Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu praised his immediate predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who he said contributed immensely to the state primary health care development.

SOURCE: https://citadelng.com/lets-make-investment-in-primary-healthcare-our-priority-akeredolu/