Faridat Ogundairo
Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASPOTECH), Professor Olumuyiwa Odunsanya has asked the incoming administration of President Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize primary health care services in rural areas.
Prof. Odunsanya advised the incoming administration to focus on improving health conditions and accessibility, rather than concentrating solely on constructing more facilities.
Odunsanya stated that the government cannot solely bear the burden of healthcare provision in a capitalist economy.
He emphasized that primary health care centers should be managed at the local government level, thereby calling for a focus on improving health conditions and accessibility rather than merely constructing more facilities.
Odunsanya said,”local government areas are supposed to look after primary health care centers, so, it must start at the local government level. It is not a question of building more facilities, it is first to improve health, and to also create condition that will make health care accessible”.
Prof. Odusanya stressed the importance of investing in health technologies and developing Nigeria’s capacity to produce vaccines.
The Vice Chancellor explained the significance of preventive and social measures such as discouraging harmful practices like force-feeding, female genital mutilation, and taboos, while empowering the local communities.
He stated that a comprehensive approach, encompassing systems, personnel, equipment, and social improvements, would bring about enhanced healthcare outcomes, rather than relying solely on the expansion of physical infrastructure.
“Health is not produced in hospitals, now, what the government must do is to make sure we have facilities, train people and employ them, but more must be put on the preventive and social aspects, like avoiding things that kill children, force-feeding, female genital mutilation, taboos, and empowering the people rather than just dealing with the facilities alone,
“There should be investment in health technologies. Nigeria is not producing vaccine. If we put a lot of investment into all these, health will improve without necessarily increasing facilities”, he stated
Prof. Odusanya also highlighted the importance of education as the primary tool for national development and urged the government to continue funding the school system through various means.
He commended the efforts of the Lagos State government in adequately funding its own schools and urged for the sustainability of such initiatives.
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