Abiodun urges stronger synergy between FG, Ogun on healthcare delivery

OGUN State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, sought a stronger synergy between the federal and state governments in the provision of quality healthcare services to the people.

Abiodun made this call when the board of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at OkeMosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He said since the objective of government at the centre and the state was effective healthcare delivery to all Nigerians, there was need for health institutions at both levels of government to complement each other.

“There is lack of synergy between the state and the FMC. Last year when we had the first case of COVID- 19 in the state, nobody knew COVID- 19 for what it was but thank God the health team was able to rise to the occasion.

“During that time, I felt something was missing. It began to appear as if there were some forms of competition, which I wondered about. I would expect that our roles should be complementary as against that which is competitive. I hope that following this meeting, we will begin to see difference in the relationship that exists between the state and the FMC,” Abiodun stated.

He said his administration was putting in place a data gathering system in the entire value chain of the health sector, with a view of tracking not just the patients, but also the prevalence of different kinds of diseases.

The governor stated further that his administration was open to partnership in the area of healthcare delivery.

“It is important for us to have as many medical facilities as possible. Our state is a home to a lot of people and we must ensure that we cater for their health needs. So, wherever we can find partnership in the healthcare, we will embrace it,” he added.

He, however, hinted that the FMC management that his administration had taken steps to return the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital ( OOUTH), Sagamu, to its lost glory, disclosing that primary health centres in the grassroots are receiving face- lift to complement secondary and tertiary health facilities in the state.