Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, launched the state’s telemedicine hub on Tuesday, promising that his government will continue to implement reforms and projects to ensure that Edo residents have improved access to affordable, efficient, and high-quality healthcare.
As a follow-up to the earlier free medical outreach initiative organized by the government in cooperation with the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas, the state government recently began treating patients through telemedicine (ANPA).
During the ceremonial opening of the center, Obaseki stated that the facility will boost the government’s efforts to improve healthcare and eliminate medical tourism.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., stated that the state will continue to work with ANPA to develop a world-class health system and manpower to ensure the delivery of effective and high-quality healthcare to the people.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to thank the ANPA officials for the great job they have been doing in Edo. I want to reassure you that in whatever areas that we can help to make this programme succeed, as a government, we will continue to do it.
“That is what we owe our people. The responsibility of every government is to guarantee the security and well-being of every citizen. At the inception of this government, the governor gave priority to primary health care, education and youth employment.”
“It’s our dream to have this standard of primary healthcare centre in each of the 192 wards in Edo State. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the whole world, but if we have this type of facility everywhere, you can imagine how many lives would be saved,” he said.
Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, Edo’s First Lady, said the free medical outreach initiative was a way for the state to return the Edo people for voting en masse for Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu, in the gubernatorial election on September 19, 2020.
She noted, “That election was one that practically the whole world was aware of; they were watching for the outcome of that election.
“People called it the mother of all elections and battles in Nigeria. It was a big battle and all kinds of conspiracy against the governor’s team; conspiracies from the place of darkness, but the people of Edo who were in the light and have seen the light upon that team stood up and were determined that the governor and his deputy be reelected.”
“I needed to say a big thank you to Edo people and the only way that came to my mind was through ANPA medical mission,” she added.
On her part, the Edo Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, who said the government was upgrading primary healthcare centres in the state to meet the healthcare needs of the people, noted, “The primary health care system that we knew and that some of us know, used to be a place where women and children used to gather and receive health talk about pregnancy; they were vaccination and immunization centres.
“However, that was not what PHCs were designed to be, but I am glad that I am in an era where the governor of the state has said that we must get it right.”
