…Obaseki says health tech will end capital flight
In fulfillment of his promise to leverage health technology in providing quality health care to Edo citizens, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday June 7, launched the telemedicine program at the Ugbor Primary Health Centre in the State.
Sharing her experience with journalists and dignitaries at the event, an elderly woman who was attended to by a foreign-based doctor on the telemedicine platform, said she received free drugs from the center which were prescribed by the doctor that attended to her.
Recall that during the free medical outreach program organized by the government in partnership with the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Governor Obaseki assured that his administration would build on the gains of ANPA by deploying technology for citizens to access quality healthcare overseas.
Speaking at the launch of the telemedicine hub, Obaseki emphasized that the revolutionary approach to healthcare would stop capital flight from the country.
The Governor said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank the ANPA officials for the great job they have been doing in Edo. I want to reassure you that in whatever areas that we can help to make this program succeed, as a government, we will continue to do it.
“That is what we owe our people. The responsibility of every government is to guarantee the security and well-being of every citizen. At the inception of this government, the governor gave priority to primary health care, education and youth employment.”
Obaseki who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., added: “It’s our dream to have this standard of primary healthcare centre in each of the 192 wards in Edo State. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the whole world, but if we have this type of facility everywhere, you can imagine how many lives would be saved.”
In her remark, the First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, reiterated her gratitude to Edo people who came out en-masse to re-elect the Governor and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“That election was one that practically the whole world was aware of; they were watching for the outcome of that election.
“People called it the mother of all elections and battles in Nigeria. It was a big battle and all kinds of conspiracy against the governor’s team; conspiracies from the place of darkness, but the people of Edo who were in the light and have seen the light upon that team stood up and were determined that the governor and his deputy be reelected.
“I needed to say a big thank you to Edo people and the only way that came to my mind was through ANPA medical mission.”
Also speaking, the Edo Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, said: “The primary health care system that we knew and that some of us know, used to be a place where women and children used to gather and receive health talk about pregnancy; they were vaccination and immunization centres.
“However, that was not what PHCs were designed to be, but I am glad that I am in an era where the governor of the state has said that we must get it right.”
