By Supo Agunloye
Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has within two years of taking charge of the affairs of the Sunshine state, among other achievements recorded so far, brought dynamism and exemplary innovations to its health sector.

The medical doctor turned politician has actually demonstrated his grasp of the medical profession and put understanding of same to bear in the governance of the state as it affects the health sector. This is evident in the unequalled turn around being experienced  in the state and the outstanding benefits the citizen now enjoy with the qualitative and affordable medical provision made available by the Mimiko government.

Gov Mimiko

As a matter of fact, the medical provision in Ondo state, particularly its Mother and Child innovation also known as Abiye in local parlance continues to draw attention beyond the state and indeed, it  has attracted global attention thus necessitating a move by pediatricians and gynecologists to decorate the governor with an award  later in the year, precisely by  December.

The feat being recorded in favour of the governor could not have been a coincidence, but the result of a well executed agenda which also has the backing of God.

This much the governor divulged at a recent function where issues relating to the success of the record breaking medical feat came to the fore.

“We took up with a promise to free the mind and that means we must invest in human capital development. From the beginning we knew we have to make a lot of investment in health sector. We started with the most vulnerable in the society: the kids and pregnant women.” the governor mentioned, even as he announced that the execution of same is beginning to yield fruits.

The Governor offered that “our home grown Abiye ‘Safe Motherhood’ programme is already a global brand. It has been recognised, acknowledged and even recommended as a template for Safe Motherhood in Africa.

Of immense joy to the governor about the success recorded so far by the Mother and Child programme is the fact that the benefit of the medical provision is not limited to the citizens and resident mothers and children in the state alone as statistics have shown that over 20 percent of patrons to the hospital are expectant mothers and children from different parts of the South-West part of the country and beyond.

The solution seeking parents and their children have turned the only functional mother and child hospital in Akure into a Mecca of sort to the delight of Mimiko who insists that governance is about service and proffering solution to.

Because of the success recorded so far by the laudable programme, the Abiye project is being expanded to other Local Government Areas in the state.

What really makes the medical innovation an instant global envy that now warrants being understudied by governments and bodies from all over the world?

Mimiko gives an insight into this as he declares that “today, the Mother and Child Hospital, Akure records on the average 25 deliveries per day. In just 18 months of operation, we were able to do over 1,000 caesarean sessions. Interestingly, over 20 percent of patients come outside the state because of the quality of service and more importantly the fact that access is at no kobo.

Not done yet, the governor insisted that “we are not resting yet, we are still looking at areas of further reducing the cost to N4,500 and I can tell you we have almost achieved that.

We hope to come down to as low as N3500 without compromising quality of service. In addition drug wastage is almost zero percent because we have utilised drug procurement and enforcement procedure that leaves no room for wasted and or out of stock mentality”

What is more, there is a unique protocol based on task shifting, such that if one get to the Hospital in the morning and see 500 patients, before afternoon, they are all gone after being seen by required medical personnel.

This feat, Mimiko has assured, will be sustained without a hitch as the means of sustaining the medical feat financially is guaranteed and has been designed to sustain itself and the process of the self sustainability has started well.

The governor who is also referred to as  The Caring Heart, explained that  for a population of one million, and capital head tax of N200, the state can take care of all mothers in Ondo State based on the empirical evidence that has come out of the Mother and Child experience.However, the governor has a shocker for the ‘foreign’ patrons to the hospital.

“Now 20 percent of patients come from outside the State; in about a few months down the line, if you are not registered in Ondo State as a resident, you may not be able to enjoy our services free. That means you’ll pay premium price.

“Again, UCH, Ibadan is trying to adopt us as a training centre that will give us some money. Mother and Child Hospital has also been designated as resource centre by the London School of Hygiene.

In one year, we have through this means been able to generate about $100,000 – $200,000 because of our services. All of these put together, will help to sustain the services at the Mother and Child Hospital. We are, I must add, also thinking of other possible means of ensuring sustainability.”

Apparently sending the signal that his government’s agenda in the health sector has only just begun to unfold, Mimiko disclosed that his government is also working on medical emergency services.

He said the Trauma Centre is almost completed and the Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, an initiative actualised through the PPP model has since become the place to be in the area of medical diagnostics in Nigeria. Why these new initiatives are going on the government he said, has also not relented in carrying out fundamental as well as routine rehabilitation works in existing medical facilities across the State announcing that “we are rehabilitating our hospitals to making them a functional system. I am sure we are on the right track with a lot of improvement.”

True to the governor’s observation and as attested to by millions, including members of the opposition that are benefiting from these provisions and have been sincere enough to echo it, the Mimiko government is without any doubt on the right track and loaded with the potential of achieving more feats.