Tinubu, Folarin promise to reform Oyo healthcare system

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the party’s governorship flagbearer in Oyo State for the 2023 general elections, Senator Teslim Folarin, yesterday, assured health workers in the state that their administration would reform the healthcare system if elected.

The duo said one of the major and critical areas Nigeria must immediately address is the health sector, adding that all other forms of progress, development and human endeavours depend largely, if not totally, on human good state of health.

Folarin, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, disclosed this during a media parley with the health workers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

He said only a handful of citizens could afford treatment in private hospitals, but promised that his administration would reform the health sector of Oyo State.

“Our government will not only upgrade the public health infrastructure but will also make required provisions to save lives. The onus lies on the government to take care of its citizens by all means necessary and the administration will not pay lip service to the sector.

“Our mission for the health sector of Oyo is to improve the quality of life by making healthcare delivery available, accessible and affordable,” he said.

The former Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Isaac Omolabi, who represented Tinubu, said the nation was a little bit at the crossroads, saying that to escape the danger, the current generation and the one to come must responsibly act fast.

He said Tinubu is not just a Yoruba man but also a critical thinker that loves Nigeria and wants the country to progress.

“If we agree to do this, we will only be left with full option. APC will win fair and square.
Tinubu, who pledged support for Folarin, said: “We have not had any competent candidate that considered the health sector, agriculture, education, undeveloped, as we currently have in Folarin.

“The APC governorship candidate is concerned about how to improve the health sector of Oyo, and not only education but also human capacity for health. He knows you’re underfunded and not well paid. How do we address this challenges, he is more than aware and can do it.”

The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Gbenga Oladele, earlier in his speech, urged the gubernatorial candidate to find solution to the Oyo State healthcare system, which he said, had become the worst in Nigeria. He said addressing these issues would improve the healthcare system of the state.