In furtherance of its goal of making health care more accessible to the rural communities of the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government has commissioned a new health centre at Ode Ugbo community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
While commissioning the Health Centre, the Honourable Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Omoleye Daramola disclosed that the effort was in continuation of the Ministry’s Quick Win Intervention Projects initiative. The initiative is geared towards making health care more accessible to the rural areas of the Niger Delta region.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Community Development and Education( CDE) in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs. Lauren Braide, said that four similar projects had been completed and were ready for use in other states of the region.
Prof. daramola, who attributed the project to part of the gains of the Change Agenda of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed that more health centres were still being constructed, with more to be added as soon as the 2019 appropriation bill was passed into law.
The Minister called on indigenes and residents of the region to support the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the quality of lives in the region by maximally utilizing the health facilities.
He urged the people of Ode Ugbo community to ensure the protection as well as maintenance of the equipment provided, adding that the Ministry would continue to ‘give prime attention’ to its commitment in Ondo state and other Niger Delta states.
In his remarks, Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by the State’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, thanked the Federal Government for the edifice in Ode Ugbo community.
He added that since the importance of good health could not be overemphasised, the Governor called for the establishment of more health facilities in the state, especially those with theatre and maternity rooms.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Ode Ugbo community, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Frederick Entiolorunda Obateru Akinruntan, thanked Government for the projec.
Headded that there wasneed for the health centre to be made functional as qualified health personnel were urgently needed in the community .
The traditional ruler, who was represented by the Asogbon of Ugbo land and Secretary of Ugboland, Demebi Isaiah Adewole, urged government to employ workers from the community as it had indigenes who are well qualified to work with the health facility.
In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aliyu Aminu Bisalla, represented by Architect Agbubala Tsoken, Coordinator of the Ondo State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, thanked those involved for the speedy completion of the project as it was done in 4 months.
He urged residents of the community to see the project as one of the legacies of the present administration in addition to ensuring that it was maintained and ‘ judiciously used’.
In his remarks, Comrade Demehin Gbenga, Chairman, Federation of Ugbo Kingdom Youths, expressed appreciation for the health facility and requested that more efforts should be geared towards satisfying the yearnings of the youths of the area.
Comrade Demehin called for provision of employment opportunities for the youths and development of the community.
Signed:
Stephen Kilebi
DD Press
