By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta
The Ogun State Government has stepped up efforts to improve public welfare through strengthened healthcare delivery and decisive action to address recurring gas emissions in some schools within the Ijebu-Ode axis of the state.
As part of measures to enhance access to affordable healthcare and strengthen primary healthcare services, the government has intensified preparations for the implementation of the Federal Government’s expanded Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0).
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement involving Ward Development Committee (WDC) chairmen from the 20 local government areas and Officers-in-Charge of primary healthcare facilities, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, disclosed that Ogun was among the states selected for the rollout of the revised BHCPF guidelines.
According to him, BHCPF 2.0 is focused on performance-based implementation, grassroots accountability and digital transparency to improve the delivery of the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Ogunsola said the engagement was part of the state’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems and improve healthcare outcomes at the grassroots level. He urged residents to demand receipts for all payments made at primary healthcare centres, noting that approved service price lists had been displayed in facilities to prevent unauthorised charges and promote accountability.
He also commended WDC chairmen for their contributions to the growth of primary healthcare in the state and encouraged them to sensitise their communities on the new reforms.
In his remarks, the State Coordinator of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr. Solape Folarin, described the BHCPF, established under the National Health Act of 2014, as a flagship financing mechanism designed to ensure sustainable funding for primary healthcare and guarantee access to quality essential health services, especially for vulnerable Nigerians.
He stressed the need for transparency, visibility and accountability in the management of the fund, saying every naira spent must translate into measurable improvements in health outcomes.
Responding on behalf of participants, WDC Chairman from Sabo-Ajura in Sagamu Local Government Area, Hon. Adetola Olutayo, described the engagement as timely and impactful, assuring that the knowledge gained would be cascaded to communities across the state to promote transparency, community ownership and effective implementation of the programme.
Meanwhile, the state government has also intensified efforts to find a lasting solution to the gas emissions reported in some school premises around the Ijebu-Ode axis.
To address the challenge, the government has engaged experts from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Ministry of Environment and geological specialists from the Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, to conduct forensic investigations and provide technical recommendations.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed that all necessary measures be taken to ensure a permanent resolution of the problem and prevent future occurrences.
He noted that prior interventions by the government included the installation of CCTV cameras and air analysers, clearing of surrounding bushes, erection of perimeter fencing and deployment of ambulances with paramedics to affected locations to ensure the continuity of academic activities and safeguard lives.
Arigbabu assured parents, teachers and learners that government remained committed to providing a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning, urging the public to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours capable of causing panic.
“In continuation of our efforts to tackle the problem of gas emissions, we decided to engage experts from the NMDPRA, the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Earth Sciences of Olabisi Onabanjo University. They are currently on the field investigating the situation,” he said.
According to him, preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a geological infraction, which requires further investigation before definitive conclusions can be reached.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Dr. Atilola Simeon, commended the state government for prioritising the safety and well-being of learners.
He pledged that the agency would conduct thorough investigations and provide detailed technical recommendations that would guide the implementation of a lasting solution to the problem.
The twin initiatives underscore the Ogun State Government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of residents through enhanced healthcare services and proactive measures to ensure the safety of students and educational institutions across the state.