Ogun Assembly Pledges More Supports For Rural Healthcare Reform

Ogun assembly pledges more supports for rural healthcare reform. He also advocated improved and timely funding for primary health care centres.

Ogun State Assembly
The Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, has assured a World Bank-led delegation of sustained legislative support for rural healthcare reform.

Mr Elemide gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit by officials of the World Bank, key federal ministries and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at his office in Abeokuta.

The delegation was in the state to review public financial management practices at the primary health care level across selected local government areas.

They later visited the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, as part of broader engagements with critical stakeholders in the state’s health governance structure.

“The Ogun State House of Assembly is irrevocably committed to collaborating with the World Bank and other stakeholders.

“We will continue to support initiatives that enhance transparency, accountability and effective healthcare delivery for our people.”

The speaker explained that the legislature was responsible for lawmaking, appropriation and oversight of government programmes and public expenditure.

He clarified that while lawmakers approve budgets, the release and disbursement of funds remain within the executive’s constitutional mandate.

Mr Elemide commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for what he described as significant investments in renovating and reconstructing primary health care centres across the state.

He said the administration’s intervention had improved access to healthcare services, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Ogun Assembly

However, the speaker called for increased recruitment of qualified medical personnel to address manpower shortages in many facilities.

He also advocated improved and timely funding for primary health care centres to consolidate infrastructure gains and ensure quality service delivery.

Earlier, the delegation leader, Maxwell Dapaah, acknowledged visible infrastructural improvements in several centres visited across local government areas.

Mr Dapaah said the team observed better buildings and equipment but noted operational challenges that required urgent attention.

He expressed concern over insufficient funding, weak financial controls and the lack of automation of patient records.

“These issues have been communicated to the executive arm for necessary action and policy response,” Mr Dapaah said.

How Governor Eno’s Ambulance Service Saved Life In Akwa Ibom Community

How Governor Eno’s ambulance service saved life in Akwa Ibom community. Just few minutes ago along Udo Udoma Avenue, by the Aka Junction in Uyo, a young lady reportedly slumped while attempting to cross the road. What could have ended in tragedy.

A single call was placed to the state’s emergency ambulance service, and within minutes, the response team was already on ground, providing immediate medical attention.

This swift intervention underscores the impacts of Governor Umo Eno’s visionary leadership. It shows the value placed on human life by the current administration.

Ambulance

Such prompt response is not only commendable but also a demonstration of the current administration’s commitment to implementing impactful programmes through the ARISE Agenda.

May God continue to bless and strengthen our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno as he continue to lead with compassion, foresight, and genuine concern for the people.

Cancer Is Not Always Death Sentence: Oncologist

Cancer is not always death sentence: oncologist. “Cancer is not always a death sentence; early detection saves lives,” an oncologist at UCH said.

An oncologist, Adebayo Oladeji, on Wednesday underscored the urgent need to strengthen nationwide cancer screening to enhance early detection and management.

Mr Oladeji, a consultant radiation and clinical oncologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, made this known following the commemoration of World Cancer Day.

According to him, early detection of the disease through screening could save an individual.
“Cancer is not always a death sentence; early detection saves lives,” he said.

World Cancer Day is a global awareness day organised by the Union for International Cancer Control on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

Mr Oladeji harped on the need for Nigeria to expand decentralised cancer care, invest in radiotherapy, pathology, and diagnostic services, and integrate palliative care at all levels to reduce financial barriers through improved insurance coverage and public funding.

According to him, collective action today will lead to fewer late-stage diagnoses, better survival outcomes and reduced suffering, adding that cancer incidence in Nigeria is steadily rising in both adults and children.

Mr Oladeji noted that this increase is driven by population growth, increasing life expectancy, lifestyle changes, environmental exposures, and improving diagnostic capacity.

He expressed concern that most patients present themselves late and often with advanced disease, which he said significantly reduces chances of survival and increases the cost and complexity of care.

Mr Oladeji said that the Federal Ministry of Health established the National Cancer Control Programme and is upgrading oncology services in selected federal teaching hospitals across the geopolitical zones, including UCH, Ibadan.
He added that initiatives such as the Cancer Access Partnership and Cancer Health Fund are improving access to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and selected targeted treatments.

“UCH is one of Nigeria’s leading centres of excellence for cancer care, with a full multidisciplinary team covering the entire cancer care pathway, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.

This includes pathologists, radiologists, surgical oncologists, gynaecologic oncologists, haematologist-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation and clinical oncologists, and psycho-oncologists.

“UCH is the first and currently the only centre in West Africa offering High-Dose-Rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer, a highly specialised form of radiotherapy. Despite these strengths, significant gaps remain, particularly in radiotherapy equipment availability and capacity.

“While progress has been made, facilities and resources remain insufficient to meet the growing cancer burden; many Nigerians still travel long distances or experience long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

According to him, although the government plans to leverage the six cancer centres to expand screening across all geopolitical zones, routine screening access remains limited for many Nigerians.

While expressing concerns that cancer care is still largely funded out-of-pocket by patients, he noted that late diagnosis, combined with inequitable access to affordable, quality cancer care, also posed a challenge.

Cancer Is Not Always Death Sentence

“Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan recognises palliative care as a core pillar, but implementation has been suboptimal, with services concentrated mainly in tertiary centres. Ongoing advocacy continues for the integration of palliative care at all levels of the health system, from primary to tertiary care,” he said.

Meanwhile, he noted that cancer risk could be significantly reduced through evidence-based measures like avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Among others, he also advised people to engage in regular physical activity, HPV vaccination and safe sexual practices for cervical cancer prevention.

“People should always participate in age-appropriate cancer screening (breast, cervical, prostate) and avoid excessive sun exposure, particularly among people with albinism, and limit exposure to known carcinogens,” he said.