MUSTAFA, OLOWOJEBUTU AFFIRMS: ‘PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS ARE BEDROCK OF HEALTH’ • As NMA Lagos meets Lagos PHC board to achieve Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Agenda
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Lagos, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu with Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPCHB), Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa
Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPCHB) Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa has said that the LSPHCB will work closely with the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in ensuring the welfare and career progression of doctors in Lagos State Primary Health Care Centers across the State. He stated this in this office at LSPHCB headquarter, Yaba when the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu and his team paid a courtesy visit.
The press release granted Trek Africa Newspaper by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, LSPHCB, Filade Olumide noted that the visit is to work out areas of collaboration between the agency and NMA Lagos. This is to ensure the success of the second pillar of the administration of the Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES agenda for Lagos which is Health and Environment.
Dr. Akinwunmi Mustafa further stated that “Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) are the bedrock of health of any society as their functions is primarily preventive. And a healthy nation is a wealthy one in all ramifications”. He also noted that “if the PHCs faulters, then the secondary and tertiary health institutions would faulter, as human and material resources would be inadequate to cater to an avalanche of unhealthy citizenry”.
The Permanent Secretary said that plans are afoot to ensure clear-cut career part with the assistance of the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions for Medical Officer Health (MOHs) at the various PHCs. While he also noted that there should be more MOHs residency in community and family health care in order to further enhance diseases prevention especially at the community level. Dr. Mustafa went on to recognize the importance of the NMA in the Health Sector and referred to them as formidable force to be reckoned with, while advising that doctors should begin to carry other cadres of health workers along in all ramification because of their importance in health care.
Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Lagos, who led his team in his remarks said the association is mapping out strategy for inclusive Lagos State engagement in making Mr. Governor’s THEMES agenda effective. He emphasized that primary health centres are important focus in health management and noted that to achieve universal coverage, adequate funding by the various arms of government must come into play, Trek Africa Newspaper can report.
He also stated that he hopes to visit the PHCB Headquarter to see a much-improved working environment for the staff. Dr. Olowojebutu averred that there must be right coverage, improved communication and adequate publicity for every landmark of LSPHCB in the media. This would improve information dissemination to the Lagos State public.
Present at the meeting were executives of the Nigeria Medical Association Lagos and management staff of Lagos State Primary Health Care Board.
