Govt to establish cardiovascular centre – Commissioner

Adeduntan made the disclosure during a Legislative Advocacy Retreat for Oyo House of Assembly on Increased Domestic Funding for Health especially Child and Family Health Issues in Oyo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat was organised by the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFAH) in collaboration with the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON).

The commissioner said the plan was in line with the Gov. Abiola Ajimobi-led administration’s promise to provide sustainable healthcare for the residents.

“People go to India, Pakistan for surgical operations, including cardiovascular diseases. I get up to 20 petitions in a week from those seeking to go to these countries for operations.

“These people are not better than us; what they have is good leadership.

“And thankfully, we now have good leadership under Abiola Ajimobi, who is committed to improving the health indicators of the state.

“The establishment of a cardiovascular centre will help to drive revenue generation in the state, as well as stop capital flight brought by medical tourism,” he said.

Adeduntan commended the Oyo legislature for its support to the executive, to ensure the passage of the Health Insurance Agency Bill and the Primary Healthcare Bill.

“All things belong to God and I know we will have this centre up and running very soon.

“2017 will be better; we have been seeking the support of the legislature to have laws that back health reform in the state,” the commissioner said.

The Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Musa Abdulwasi, said that the legislature would give priority to the health sector through responsive laws and legislation.

“We know that the wealth of a nation is in its health, and we must fulfil the promises we made to the electorate to safeguard their socioeconomic wellbeing.

“This retreat could not have come at a better time, and is a step in the right direction,” he said.

Dr Emmanuel Abanida, the Executive Secretary of HERFON, said that health issues in particular, and that of children and women, needed to be given priority in legislation.

Abanida said that health was no longer a social sector issue but an economic and developmental one.