By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta
The Ogun State House of Assembly has confirmed Mrs. Adenike Osoba-Ademokun as commissioner nominee, even as the Ogun State Government intensified efforts to improve healthcare delivery through the integration of eye care services into primary healthcare centres across the state.
Mrs. Osoba-Ademokun was screened and confirmed during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The lawmakers urged the nominee to justify the confidence reposed in her by deploying her experience to strengthen governance and public administration in the state.
According to the Speaker, the confirmation followed a request forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Dapo Abiodun seeking legislative approval for her appointment as commissioner.
The approval came after the adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole House presented by Hon. Babatunde Tella, who stated that lawmakers were satisfied with the nominee’s qualifications, competence and performance during the screening exercise.
Responding during the screening, Osoba-Ademokun pledged to leverage her experience in the public service, including her previous role as commissioner in the State Civil Service Commission, to support effective governance and improved service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has incorporated eye healthcare services into primary healthcare centres across local government areas as part of measures to strengthen access to quality eye care.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, disclosed this during a capacity-building training organised by the board in collaboration with FIDSON Healthcare for eye health workers drawn from primary healthcare facilities across the state.
Ogunsola said poor awareness and limited access to professional eye care remained major factors responsible for visual impairment and harmful treatment practices among many Nigerians.
He explained that integrating eye care into primary healthcare services would help bring treatment closer to communities and reduce the burden of avoidable blindness.
“One of the vital components of primary healthcare is the promotion of eye health, prevention and treatment of conditions that may lead to visual impairment, as well as rehabilitation of affected persons,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of FIDSON Healthcare, Mr. Gbemileke Afolabi commended the Ogun State Government for prioritising healthcare reforms and strengthening partnerships aimed at improving access to quality eye care services.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the state through training, awareness campaigns and the provision of essential eye care support for frontline health workers.
Also speaking, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyemi from Ipokia Local Government Area, who represented participants at the training, described the programme as timely and impactful.
According to her, the training would enhance the capacity of healthcare workers to identify and manage eye-related conditions at the grassroots level while reducing harmful and unprofessional treatment practices that often lead to avoidable blindness.