Edo residents salute Obaseki’s reforms in health sector, hails free medical outreach

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has received commendation from residents in the state for prioritizing the health of citizens and embarking on people-centric reforms and programmes in the health sector that have translated to the delivery of quality and efficient healthcare services to Edo people.

The residents, who spoke to journalists in Benin City at the weekend, under the auspices of Esan Agenda, said the governor, in the last five years, has addressed the age-old challenges in the health sector, repositioning the state as one of the most preferred destinations for medical tourism.

They specifically commended the governor for the ongoing free medical outreach in the state, offering free surgeries and surgical interventions for over 5, 000 Edo residents.

Convener of the group, Mr. Akhere Obozele, noted that the state’s healthcare system, under the leadership of Governor Obaseki, has been decentralized, ensuring the revamp of primary health care centers to achieve equitable access to affordable health services especially by residents of hard-to-reach Edo communities.

According to him, “The Edo Health Insurance Scheme (Edo-HIS) in which no fewer than one million persons in the state are beneficiaries; the massive investment in primary health care centres in all the local government areas, as well as the transfer of personnel and deployment of equipment to these centers; the ongoing expansion of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, and the plan to build at least one specialist hospital in each of the three senatorial districts, amongst other strategic projects to upgrade Edo health care system, clearly distinguishes Governor Obaseki as a change agent and superlative performer.

“Today, over 5, 000 Edo residents are benefitting from the partnership with the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), reaping free surgical interventions and treatments for heart, kidney, eye and other ailments.

“We have no doubt that the health care needs of Edo residents are guaranteed with the numerous interventions embarked by the state government under the leadership of Governor Obaseki in his quest to reposition the sector to meet international standards.”

“Edo people are proud to have him as our governor and will continue to support him towards the realization of his vision of making Edo great again,” Obozele noted.