LG SERVICE WEEK: OGUN RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH

.... People pour encomiums on Ms Onabanjo on achievements so far as Local Government Service Commission Chairman

Residents of Ogun State, spread across the four geo-political zones of the state have benefitted from the free medical outreach organised by the Ogun State Local Government Service Commission as part of the activities marking the maiden edition of the Local Government Service Week.

The free medical outreach was held simultaneously at Ake Palace in Abeokuta for Ẹ̀gbá zone, Empire field, Ilaro for Yewa, Oriyanri ,hospital road, Sagamu for Remo and Itoro Hall, Itoro, Ijebu Ode for Ìjẹ̀bú zone on Monday 13th November, 2023.

The outreach which witnessed a large turnout of Staffers of the Local Government Areas also had an influx of residents of the host communities. The essence of the Outreach is to provide basic Healthcare services to the Staffers as well as members of the public who find it difficult in accessing basic and adequate medical services due to financial constraints. Medical services provided by the medical teams included free medical consultations, diagnosis and check ups as well as free distribution of essential drugs.

Dele Ogunyemi who covered the event at Ake Palace in Abeokuta, venue for Egba zone, reported that  the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo, who was ably represented at the event by the full time Commissioner 1, Hon. Femi Lukmon Adiro hinted that the outreach was put together to impact and provide free basic health services to the people while 

promising that people with severe medical conditions, requiring surgeries would be placed on referral to the appropriate medical hospitals for further treatment.

He also urged residents of the State to patronize Local Government Health facilities as there are competent, experienced and qualified medical practitioners and health workers that are willing and ready to serve the people better.

The Executive Chairman, Abeokuta South Local Government, Hon. Omolaja Ayodele Majekodunmi JP in his speech gave kudos to  Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo and her team for organising the first ever Local Government Service Week in the State.

High point of the event was the presentation of  cash gifts by the Local Government Service Commission to Mrs. Akinmuko Grace and Mr. Òní Kayode Peters to take care of their health needs. The Commission was also supported by the Executive Chairmen of Abeokuta South and North Local Governments by giving additional cash donations to Mr Peters in order to further aid his treatment.

In attendance are the Directors in the Commission, Head of Local Government Administrations, Directors, Head of Departments and several other principal career officers.

In the meantime, Awoyemi Fatimah who covered the Medical Outreach programme at Oriyanrin , hospital road , Sagamu for Remo zone, reported that no fewer than 500 people benefitted from the medical outreach.

In his speech during the event, the Executive Chairman, Sagamu Local Government, Ogbeni Odulate Jubril who spoke through the Head of Local Government Administration, Sagamu Local Government, Alhaji Abayomi Lemboye commended the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo's efforts in moving Ogun State Local Government Service to greater heights in terms of training and retraining the staff, recruitment of health workers and timely promotion exercise.

The Local Government boss revealed that the medical outreach had brought succour to the indigents who were unable to afford medical bills.

Ogbeni Odulate while congratulating the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission assured that his administration would always provide conducive environment needed to enhance the service in his council area.

Also, speaking at the programme, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, ably represented by Hon Koye Martins Ijaduoye said that the rationale behind the medical outreach programme is to avail all and sundry the opportunity to know their status, especially, the indigents who have health challenges but unable to finance their medical treatment.

He then urged people to take advantage of the medical outreach to know their medical conditions and those with severe medical conditions would be given referral to appropriate medical hospital for further treatment.

In his own speech, the director, Primary Health Care in the Local Government, Dr. Solarin M.T. , expressed satisfaction and appreciated the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, for the kind gesture extended to people in health provision and charity given to staff during the programme.

Dr. Solarin with other medical experts provided free health talks, consultation services and drugs were given to hypertension, diabetes patients during the programme.

Dignitaries that graced the colourful event include : Hon Salami Isiaka, the Vice chairman, Sagamu Local Government, Mr.  Babatunde Owolabi , director, Management Service, Local Government Service Commission and all heads of department, Sagamu Local Government.

Similarly, reporting from the Empire field, Ilaro for the Yewa Zone, Yinka Ademoye reported that the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Adeolu Olufowobi , representing the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo stated that the Commission took the initiative in its bid to provide additional relief to the people who battle one health challenge or the other.

According to him, " there are so many people finding it difficult to fund their medical treatment, despite Government's resolve to provide affordable and qualitative health care for its citizens.

The Medical doctor cum administrator, disclosed that recently the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, approved the appointment of over 600 health workers ranging from medical officers, nurses, Community health extension workers to health attendants for the Local Government Service, all in the bid to provide affordable and qualitative health care services to the people at the grassroots.

Dr. Olufowobi , therefore , emphasised the need for the people at the grassroots to embrace the health insurance scheme recently introduced by the Ogun State Government, adding, " that it is the most convenient way to settle medical bills when health challenges emerge .

As part of giving back, in - service officer, Mr. Agunbiade Kehinde, Health Attendant from Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Department, a retired officer, Mr. Agboyinu Janumo Simeon, Chief Environmental Officer from Ipokia Local Government were given cash gifts by the Commission to settle their health challenges.

Present at the flag -off of the free medicare are ; Hon Lateef Adebayo Salami, the Executive Chairman, the Vice chairman, Secretary to the Local Government, Yewa South Local Government.

Other dignitaries include; the director, Promotion, Posting and Transfer ,LGSC, Heads of Local Government Administration of Yewa South, Ado-Odo / Ota and Yewa North with scores of distinguished officers in Ogun State Local Government Service. 

Osunderu Oyebola Oke who covered the Medical Outreach programme at the Local Government Secretariat, Itoro, Ijebu Ode for the Ijebu zone reported that the Executive Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government, Alhaji Babatunde Emilola Gazal in his welcome address, praised the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo on the flag-off ceremony of the medical outreach.

The ALGON Chairman, Ogun State, Alhaji Gazal advised patients present to always endeavour to do their medical check-up on regular basis.

Speaking, the Chairman,LGSC, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo assured people that consultation services, medical test and drugs would be provided for them free of charge, stressing that those with severe medical conditions, requiring surgeries would be referred to the appropriate medical hospital for further treatment.

Ms Onabanjo, however, revealed that the Ogun State Government has introduced health insurance scheme for the formal, informal and the vulnerable groups while advising people to ensure they enrol for the health insurance scheme, as it will go a long way in relieving them of the burden of health challenges at this time of inflation and other economic crisis which the scheme intend to address.

Dignitaries at the event are; Alhaji Olatunde Rufai, full-time commissioner 4 , Mr Olukorede Safiriyu , director, Appointment, Discipline and Pension,LGSC, Comrade Bayo Adefesobi, Ogun State NULGE President as well as Heads of Local Government Administration , Ijebu Ode, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu East, and Odogbolu Local  Governments.