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Tag: Muyiwa Gbadegesin

  • Result on Ibadan ‘patient’ negative, says commissioner

    Result on Ibadan ‘patient’ negative, says commissioner

    The Oyo State Government said yesterday the result of the blood sample of a suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patient is negative.

    The suspect was admitted at the state-owned Adeoyo Hospital at Ring Road, Ibadan, on Monday, when the blood sample was taken.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin said the blood sample was taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), also in Ibadan, for screening.

    The commissioner assured that the Abiola Ajimobi administration had put machinery in motion to ensure that the disease does not spread in the state, if any case is eventually reported.

    He said the patient would be placed under constant monitoring until she recovers fully.

    UCH wards were empty yesterday as striking doctors abandoned their offices.

    But the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Ayodeji Bobade, told our reporter it had no case of Ebola.

    He said but if there was, there was no doctor to attend to the patient.

    On the blood sample brought to the hospital for EVD test, Bobade said: “As I am speaking to you, there is nothing of such. The doctors’ strike has affected virtually everything here.”

    To prevent the disease from spreading, the state government directed a 24-hour monitoring and tracking of suspected cases in the 33 local government areas.

    Gbadegesin said there was emphasis on the boundaries at Saki West, Iwajowa, Atisbo and Itesiwaju Local Government Areas.

    The commissioner explained that the tracking of foreigners entering and leaving the state was also ongoing.

    He said: “There is also a strong collaboration with officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, other Southwest Ministries of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UCH in Ibadan on surveillance, tracking and case management of suspected, probable or confirmed cases.”

    Gbadegesin said there was no reported case of the EVD in the state, adding that an isolation ward was being built at the UCH to take care of any confirmed Ebola patient.

    The commissioner also said the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had promised that, despite its members’ nationwide strike, doctors in the state would still treat Ebola patients, if they are brought to any public health facility in the state.

    He advised the public to maintain proper personal hygiene, such as regular hand-washing with soap and water, and to report any person suspected to have fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes and bleeding or anybody who might have died by some unknown causes, to the nearest health facility.

    Gbadegesin added that the government was interested in those with the Ebola symptoms and/or might have visited Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea recently.

    He cautioned the residents against the use of unorthodox methods for the EVD, such as taking salt or bitter cola.

     

  • Oyo moves health officials to boundaries

    Oyo moves health officials to boundaries

    The Oyo State Government has moved health professionals to borders with heightened tension on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The measure, the government said, was taken to prevent the deadly virus from entering the state.

    Also, officials of Ministry of Health have begun enlightenment campaign at religious homes and traditional health centres on the need to contact medical personnel for the proper burial of the dead.

    Health Commissioner Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin spoke with our correspondent yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, on the state’s readiness to combat the disease.

    The commissioner said protective kits had been procured and distributed to health workers to protect them during surveillance duties at the boundaries.

    He assured that the Abiola Ajimobi administration had taken decisive steps to prevention an Ebola outbreak in the state.

    According to him, the government is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministries of Health of the neighbouring states to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

     

  • Oyo, Fed Govt fight child/maternal mortality

    Oyo, Fed Govt fight child/maternal mortality

    The Oyo State government will continue to support the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) scheme, Commissioner for Health Muyiwa Gbadegesin said yesterday.

    He spoke at the SURE-P health dialogue for the promotion of maternal, neonatal and child health at the State Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Gbadegesin, who was represented by the State Director of Primary Health Care Services, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oyelakin, said the government has recruited more health workers, equipped community healthcare centres and fixed roads in rural areas for easy accessibility.

    He said: “The purpose of SURE-P MHCN is to improve maternal and child health at the rural level. They have health officials who complement the efforts of the state government. We urge women to patronise these equipped primary health care centres for safe delivery.”

    The commissioner warned residents against patronising quacks.

    The Aare Alasa of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi, who chaired the event, said it was sad that approximately one million women and children die yearly in Nigeria of preventable causes.

    SURE-P MNCH State Coordinator, Mrs. Adebola Adesina said the scheme’s community health centres are spread across six local government areas – Kajola, Surulere, Ido, Oorelope, Ibarapa North and Oluyole.

    She said: “The Federal Government has made provisions for the necessary facilities to ensure safe delivery of expectant mothers in the centres. Expectant mothers should go through the full continuum of care and attend all antenatal and postnatal care appointments to improve their health and that of their babies.

    Mrs. Adesina said all services at the centres are free, urging the people to report any community health officer who demands money from them to the appropriate authorities.

  • Students decry non-accreditation of school

    Students of the Oyo State School of Hygiene, Eleyele in Ibadan, have decried the non-accreditation of the institution.

    About 8:30 a.m. yesterday, the students assembled at the gate of the State Secretariat, demanding to see Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Security operatives, who initially prevented them from going in, later allowed them into the secretariat.

    The leader of the students, Mr. Ayuba Ibrahim, said their graduate colleagues do not participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after the Higher National Diploma (HND).

    He condemned the poor state of infrastructure in the institution.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ismail Alli said the government had sent a bill to upgrade the school to the House of Assembly.

    Alli said the bill would be considered this week, adding that with the upgrade to a college of technology, its facilities would be uplifted.

    He said funds were earmarked to improve the institution’s infrastructure in the 2014 budget.

    Alli said: “The budget includes the upgrade of facilities at your school and the conversion of the institution to a college of technology. Everything you are clamouring for is in progress. They include a functional library and laboratories.

    “The repositioning of your institution is part of the transformation agenda of the Ajimobi administration. This governor believes in quality education and he will ensure that state institutions become first-class. We shall leave your school better than we met it.”

    Commissioner for Health Muyiwa Gbadegesin told the students to set up a committee to monitor deliberations on the bill this week.

    The students thanked the government officials and returned to their school.

     

  • Group donates HIV equipment

    Group donates HIV equipment

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN), yesterday donated equipment for tests and examination of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired (HIV/AIDS) to the Oyo State Ministry of Health.

    Some of the equipment included CD4 count machines, chemistry analyser, Sport Utility Vehicle, office furniture, work stations, and other laboratory facilities.

    APIN’s Oyo State Team Leader Ladi Akinyemi said AIDS was challenging the existence of people and the development of Africa, adding that the donation was aimed at complementing the government’s effort at reducing HIV.

    He said the prevalence scale of HIV/AIDS in Oyo State is three per cent, an estimation of seven million.

    “We are doing this to reach people in the suburbs; this is to scale up HIV services in communities. We have trained community based health workers for the prevention of AIDS and also 500 health workers have been trained,” Akinyemi said.

    According to him, part of the challenges confronting the organisation includes lack of adequate human resources to manage facilities and infrastructural challenges.

    The APIN Oyo State team leader urged governments to equip young people with appropriate knowledge and support to live safe life and be able to manage HIV/AIDS.

    Commissioner for Health Muyiwa Gbadegesin lauded APIN for its achievement in combating AIDS.

  • Oyo commissioners, advisers get portfolios

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has announced the portfolios of newly appointed commissioners and special advisers.

    The four commissioners that were reappointed – Adebayo Ojo (Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice), Muyiwa Gbadegesin (Health), Zacheus Adelabu (Finance) and Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Aigbe (Culture and Tourism) – retain their portfolios.

    The portfolios of others are as follows: Princess Oyefunke Oworu (Trade and Investment); Dapo Lam-Adesina (Industry, Applied Science and Technology); S. A. Olaniyonu (Education); Abiodun Atanda (Economic Planning and Budget); Prince Gbade Lana (Information and Orientation); Umar Alao (Youths and Sports); Lawrence Adewale (Environment) and Deji Akande (Physical Planning and Urban Development).

    The portfolios of the special advisers are as follows: Festus Adedayo (Media); Abayomi Oke (Environment); Waheed Gbadamosi (Physical Planning and Urban Development); Ganiyu Fawole (Youths and Sports); Gbolagade Busari (Information and Orientation); Toye Arulogun (Public Affairs); Mathew Oyedokun (Solid Minerals); Segun Abolarinwa (Security); Mrs. Aderonke Adedayo (Due Process); Ms. Olubunmi Amoo (Trade, Investment and Cooperatives); Tope Fajana (Millennium Development Goals); Fatai Ibikunle (Parastatals) and Ms. Olufunke O. Olunloyo (Education).

  • Oyo gets 12 commissioners

    Oyo gets 12 commissioners

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday swore in 12 commissioners.

    They are Princess Oyefunke Oworu; Prince Gbade Lana; Mr. Adebayo Ojo; Mr. Dapo Lam-Adesina; Mr. Zachaeus Adelabu; Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Aigbe; Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu; Mr. Adewale Olujide, Mr. Adedeji Akande; Mr. Umar Alao and Mr. Abiodun Atanda.

    Speaking at the ceremony, held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ajimobi urged them to exhibit a high level of integrity, commitment and service to humanity.

    He said the commissioners were appointed based on their educational background, record and party recommendation.

    Reacting to insinuations that the commissioners were children of the elite, Ajimobi said they were appointed on merit and not because of their family background.

    Accusing the opposition of “unnecessarily attacking” his administration to score cheap points, the governor said: “The opposition will always say something. In fact, their job is to criticise us and our responsibility is to do the job. The world is for those who strive hard and not for those who sit back and criticise.

    “When we conceived the idea of constructing the flyover at Mokola, they said it was impossible. When we started, they said we could not do it. Later on, they said they were the ones who earlier dreamt about it. Even though it was first thought about in 1976, we built it.

    “We believe Oyo State must be taken to a higher level than we met it. We want Oyo to be counted as one of the modern states in Nigeria.”

    To the commissioners, Ajimobi said: “You are in the second phase of the ship and we believe you have enough capabilities and strength to sail through. I hope you will contribute commendably to this administration. I commend those who are lucky to be back. For those who are new, I challenge you and believe you will find me friendly, if you work hard. If you do not work hard, I am not a nice person.

    “Be reminded that whatever you do, people will criticise you. What is important is to put in your best. If you strive hard enough, you will succeed.”