Ondo State Gets Cancer Treatment Center

Ondo State Government has unfolded plans to establish a cancer treatment center to take care of patients suffering from the deadly disease.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, and Special Adviser in the Ministry, Prof Simidele Odimayo, said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved the construction of the cancer center in the state.

Ajaka and Odimayo spoke in Akure, the state capital, at a programme organized by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Wale Akinlosotu, for state government officials to give stewardship of their offices.

Those in charge of the health sector said the upsurge of the deadly disease has given government concern and the government has approved the cancer center to address the issue for people not to travel to other states to seek treatment.

Ajaka said Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has promised that in no distant time, there would be a cancer center because those who go to Lagos for treatment need to wait for several months before being attended to.

Also, he said the State Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS) has produced no fewer than 4,265 babies since its inception.

The commissioner said the scheme, which was designed by former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in 2022 for pregnant women and children under five years of age to prevent maternal mortality in the state, would be revitalized.

Ajaka said, over 4,265 babies, among which are 380 twins, 10 triplets, and two quadruplets all delivered under the state equity scheme

His words: “Implementation of Abiyamo Maternal and Child Insurance Scheme ( Abiyamo Scheme) -fully funded by Ondo State Government where pregnant women and under-five children are fully covered as vulnerable. To date, the Abiyamo scheme has recorded over 46,741 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children below 5 years of age).

“Total deliveries 4,265; Twins 380; Triplets 10; Quadruplets two and all services are provided at no cost to the beneficiaries”

He said the establishment of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission aimed at ensuring Universal Health Coverage for citizens of Ondo State birthed 56,700 enrollees across 203 wards in 18 LGAs of the State.

According to him “Beneficiaries include widows, elderly, people with disabilities, the vulnerable women of reproductive age group and children under five.”

Similarly, Odimayo said 101,017 enrollees (Public Servants and their dependents) are fully covered under the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) for PPPall public servants in the state. Over 460 surgeries have been performed in less than 2 years under ORANGHIS.”

He stressed that two days ago, Governor Aiyedatiwa flagged off the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) for the state’s Informal Sector and over 4,000 artisans, market women, farmers, commercial transport operators, and private sector workers across the State, among others, would benefit from the scheme.

He listed other achievements of the ministry amongst others as “Massive recruitment of health professionals across all levels of care: primary, secondary and tertiary; training of one hundred and twenty (120) health workers on new – and childhood Iliness management; training of 130 health workers in 2024 across 65 facilities in 18 LGAs on clinical and self-breast examination; training of primary healthcare workers on mental health and regular payment of health workers salaries.”

Odimayo said, “regular payment of full hazard allowance for health workers; approval and commencement of new entry points of GL. 13 and 10 for doctors and nurses respectively as against GL 12 and 10 were the norm. This will attract most health professionals to the State and checkmate the exodus of existing ones; approval and commencement of full CONMESS for doctors in the State and establishment of DHCMA with the commencement of full operationalization in September 2023-this aim at providing quality and affordable drugs to Ondo State residents.”

He also revealed that the ministry massively distributed free drugs and health commodities worth N100 million to secondary and tertiary health facilities/institutions across the State in March 2023.

His words “Construction of Surgical and Medical wards at Mother and Child Hospital, Akure; Extension works for Pharmacy, Laboratory, and HMIS department at General Hospital Igbokada, Ilaje LGA; renovation of Children ward, Isolation ward, and Female ward of General Hospital, Iwaro-oka. Akoko South West LGA; extension of Pharmacy, Laboratory and HMIS departments at General Hospital Bolorunduro, Ondo East LGA amongst others.”

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