The saying, ‘a healthy nation, is a wealthy nation’, is a very profound statement. Sound health connotes wellness, fitness and strength. These three are  necessary requirements a man needs to function properly when carrying out his daily endeavour, economically, academically, sports, etc. Effectiveness, efficiency and productivity in work will be impossible in the absence of sound health.
According to economic Experts, ‘The health of a population is a key driver of labour and capital investment, and consequent economic growth’. They say that good health can lead to a higher Gross Domestic Product(GDP) Per Capital on the long-run, due to its impact on population, participation and productivity. ‘People with good health status have higher returns on their labour inputs, and that education is also important for achieving a stronger local economy: this is made possible by a healthy population’, they concluded.

In recognition of these truth, the Gov. OBASEKI’ led government have been working assiduously towards improving the health sector in Edo state, and making Healthcare services easily accessible to Edo people since he assumed office as Governor.

To this end, various progressive health policies have been championed by his government. One of which is the EDO HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY(EDOHIP)-an all encompassing health insurance program aimed at improving access to affordable healthcare in rural areas of the state, strengthening the primary healthcare system, providing access to specialist care for most common ailments, etc.
There’s also the establishment of the public health emergency operation Centre, and infectious disease isolation Centre.

Edo state school of Nursing and mid-wifery was in a state of comatose for many years before this Administration came on board. Today, the state school of Nursing and mid-wifery have been brought back to life, upgraded to world class standard-to ensure adequate training of health personnel, and remodeled ‘Edo state college of Nursing sciences’. So far, several hundreds of midwives, nurses and community health workers on best practices on healthcare delivery have been trained by this government.

In his desire to reduce ‘Out-of-Pocket’ expenses on healthcare, the COMPULSORY HEALTH INSURANCE LAW was enacted.
As we speak, the world class Edo Specialist Hospital is fully functional, coupled with the rehabilitation of the healthcare centers in all the 18 local government areas of the state-courtesy of this government.

The state Governor also took the lead in the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 Pandemic in the country. Part of his efforts here include: the 30-Acres of land set aside for medical hub-for modern health infrastructure in Edo state, setting up the COVID-19 Response team which carried out an Epidemiological survey to predict ways the virus spread, and the tactics for response, training several thousands of health workers who played active roles in the campaign against the Pandemic: with full insurance cover for these health workers, several billions of Naira spent in the procurement of state of the art machines and other equipment for fighting this Pandemic, etc.

And through out the era of this Pandemic, most civil servants in Edo state were asked to stop coming to work, as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease, yet, his government never defaulted in the payment of their salaries. While announcing his decision to establish a medical hub in Edo state at the SMART CITY MAYORS’ SUMMIT in Taipei-the Taiwanese capital some months ago,  Obaseki said: ‘So far, our story is one of taking opportunity of the era to build our infrastructure’. He told participants at the world meeting that part of his administration’ concerted policy responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was to make health sector reforms in Edo state a priority.

Still not resting on his oars, Gov. Obaseki’ administration empowers and supports a number of initiatives and programs geared towards training, educating and creating public awareness on various health issues: like the 3 days training and enlightenment program for young persons of reproductive age, and family planning held at the YOUTH House in Benin-city recently.

Tagged: ‘SUSTAINABLE HEALTH FAMILY AND MATERNAL SUPPORT INITIATIVE’, the program organized by the 18 local government council of Edo state, attracted Resource persons from the medical field, the legal profession, press, etc, who spoke on the theme: ‘Bridging The Gap Between Knowledge And Practice Of Family Planning: Lesson From Godwin Obaseki Led Administration Example’.

In his opening address, Executive director(SHFMSI) Mr. Aliu Akokhian lectured the audience on various types of African traditional beliefs and customs preventing family Planning success in the society, the after negative effect of such attitude on the society, and ways of putting an end to such ignorance.

He touched on the differences between PANDEMIC, EPIDERMIC, and OUTBREAK, as it relates to diseases and the rate at which they spread.

A former Senior Special Assistant(SSA) to Gov. Obaseki on political matters, Hon. Raymond Evbuomwan who doubled as PRO Planning Committee and Anchor man at the event, opined that the lack of public sensitization and enlightenment on the subject of family planning is largely the reason for the uncontrollable increase in the numbers of innocent children roaming the streets today all over the country: which is fast becoming an eye sore and a big shame to the country in the eyes of other countries around the world.

Continuing, he said Education which opens the door for a bright and better future for an individual, and the best legacy parents can bequeath on their children, will become too expensive for parents that give birth arbitrarily without family planning, especially in this harsh economic times that we find ourselves today in the country. ‘This places the country under severe risk in the hands of these children who would most likely end up as outlaws(street urchins, armed robbers, etc)’.

Honourable Evbuomwan sighted the case of some of the Dare-Devil terrorist groups in the country today who find it easy to recruit members, because the bulk of their recruitments are from the destitute on our streets-without hope or future. Pointing out that the enormous resources the federal government have spent in her efforts to end these insurgency, run into billions of Dollars, an amount that’s more than enough to turn-around the economy of the country today.

He said this situation would have been prevented to a large extent if there have been enough public sensitization and education on the subject of family planning and he concluded by heaping high praises on the Gov. Obaseki’ government for a program like this, and for the great transformation he has brought to the health sector in Edo state.

Key speakers at the events lectured participants on how to spread public awareness on the importance and need for family Planning in both urban and rural areas, CONTRACEPTIVES and various other preventive steps to take to prevent unwanted pregnancy that are not injurious to health, wisdom to apply to soften the rigid stands of family members in their beliefs in some archaic African customs and traditions-who see the idea of family planning as a taboo and various methods of family planning, etc.

They identified some of the inadequacies mitigating against easy access to family planning awareness and materials in the rural areas, and ways these problems can be addressed. ‘Protection against REPRODUCTIVE TRACK INFECTION in women is one benefit family Planning offers. It also prevents unwanted pregnancy, and improves the quality of life’, according to them.
The speakers were unanimous in acknowledging the giant strides of Gov. Obaseki’ government  and how it is  making health care delivery in Edo state the best in the country.

These giant strides  have also been receiving acknowledgements from several other notable bodies-with Awards and Honour being bestowed on the Governor by these bodies. One of such recognition is the BEST PERFORMING GOVERNOR AWARD FOR ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION in the south south region, for his interventions in strengthening Edo state health system and enhance quality and affordable health care for residents, bestowed on him by the federal government through the Primary Healthcare Development Agency(NPHCDA) recently.
Presenting the Award, NPHCDA said Gov. Obaseki stood out by establishing the Electronic Patent Record System in 52 primary Healthcare centers, and Telemedicine hubs in Ugbor and Oredo PHC in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas(ANPA): that Obaseki distributed Health workers from HMA to EDSPHCDA to improve service delivery, recruited Health workers EDSPHCDA and migrated PHC staff pay points to the state government.

The belief here is that, should these giant strides of his be sustained by other administrations to come in the state, ten years from now will be too long a time for Edo state to stand side by side with South Korea as the Nation and state with the best Healthcare system in the world.
Joseph Nosakhare Obanor
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