By Adeola Badru

Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Oyo State are set to benefit from improved coordination and communication following the distribution of new mobile phones and directories to 66 facilities.

The distribution, facilitated by First Health Dynamic Synergy International Limited in partnership with the Oyo State Government, is aimed at strengthening service delivery and enhancing disease surveillance at the community level.

Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Professor Temitope Alonge, said during the presentation in Ibadan on Thursday that the devices would enable PHCs to communicate more efficiently and manage multiple calls simultaneously.

“PHC is the first point of contact for most people, so ensuring reliable communication is essential for effective healthcare,” Alonge said.

He noted that the improved network links would allow facilities to alert authorities more rapidly during outbreaks.

“As we enter the dry season, when the risk of Lassa fever increases, this will help prevent the kind of crisis we experienced a few years ago,” he added.

Alonge explained that the selected PHCs had previously undergone upgrades after an assessment revealed persistent operational challenges. The facilities were chosen based on patient volume, classification level, and access to stable electricity and water.

“We identified 66 PHCs—two in each local government—and upgraded them in three phases,” he said.

According to him, all centres now operate on a 10kV solar inverter system to ensure uninterrupted power, while each has been equipped with a red-brick incinerator for safe waste disposal. The facilities were also supplied with computer tablets to support digital record-keeping and real-time data collection.

“The health solution we are introducing now is intended to complement the government’s investment by improving communication and responsiveness,” Alonge said.

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, commended the initiative, describing it as a valuable innovation aligned with the state government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare.

She said Governor Seyi Makinde has prioritised an enabling environment for improved health services statewide, adding that better communication at the PHC level would further support that goal.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Akindeyi Bolanle of Ofa Igbo PHC in Lagelu Local Government, said the intervention would significantly enhance emergency response and routine coordination.

“The communication gadget will enable us to reach one another easily in cases of emergency. It will raise the standard of our facilities and improve the way PHCs interact across the state,” she said.

Ajetunmobi expressed appreciation to the state government, the Ministry of Health, and Professor Alonge for the intervention.