Dr. Dennis Osahon Aikoriogie, the gubernatorial candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in Edo State, has unveiled his plans to prioritize the provision of primary health care across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
According to Dr. Aikoriogie, the provision of primary health care is essential to addressing the health needs of the people, encompassing health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care in communities. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to promote social equity, ensure state-wide coverage, foster self-reliance, promote intersectoral coordination, and increase people’s involvement in the planning and implementation of health programs.
Dr. Aikoriogie highlighted the challenges faced by previous administrations in the state, including fragmented governance, poor and dilapidated health facilities in rural areas, inadequate distribution of health workers, lack of essential drugs supply, poor quality of health care services, and insufficient staffing. To tackle these issues, Dr. Aikoriogie aims to resuscitate all clinics and health centers in the state, with a focus on bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of rural communities using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a foundation.
In addition, the NRM candidate plans to revitalize all General Hospitals across the 18 LGAs, making them more functional and responsive to emergencies arising from the clinics and health centers. He also intends to improve the working conditions of health workers in rural areas, provide ambulances to each General Hospital and ward in the state, and offer 100% free medical services to pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
Dr. Aikoriogie emphasized that these healthcare improvement initiatives would be made possible through partnerships with international and domestic donors during his administration. He also stated that the implementation of these policies would be backed by an Executive Order and an Act of the State Assembly, ensuring their sustainability and effectiveness in benefiting the people of Edo State.
