The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, has said the government would soon upgrade the public health laboratory at Oke-Eda to the status of an international research centre.
The commissioner spoke in Akure when he appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, to defend the ministry’s budget in the 2014 Appropriation Bill.
Adeyanju noted that the upgrade of the laboratory would enhance partnership with other international research centres like the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), US.
According to him, the health laboratory will help in analysing health reports and encourage different health programmes that will attract international recognition to the activities of the state government.
Adeyanju said funds for the maintenance of existing mother and child trauma centre and procurement of ambulances for emergency cases had been factored into the budget.
He stated that the state government would embark on the construction of Mother and Child Hospitals in Okitipupa and Ikare-Akoko in the southern and northern senatorial districts respectively.
According to him, the government plans to provide rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and upgrade all general hospitals in the state, to reduce pressure on higher centres or hospitals.
Adeyanju said the government would ensure the training of more pharmacy and laboratory technicians to meet the people’s health needs.
Responding, Fidelis Akinwolemiwa, Chairman of the committee, expressed the readiness of the committee to assist the ministry to achieve its set goals.
The chairman urged the ministry to always carry along members of the house committee on health in their activities at delivering quality healthcare to the citizenry.
