The Ogun State Government has advised residents and organisation of the State to be conscious of their health and maintain proper hygiene in their homes and the community at large.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker gave the advise during a road walk and a visit to the Ake Palace in Abeokuta to commemorate the year 2023 World Health Day and the 75th Anniversary of World Health Organisation (WHO), with the theme: “Health for All”, noting that the essence of the Walk was to create awareness and educate the people on various diseases and ailments, and how to prevent them.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, Coker said “the significance of the day is to create public awareness on how people can take proper care of themselves. We also want to educate them on some health related issues, how to identify them and what to do when they have these issues. We want to tell them to be conscious of their health and go to the hospital when they are sick”.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola stated that the WHO recognises the roles of traditional institutions and leaders in the health of the people, hence the visit to the Palace, appreciating the efforts of the organization in providing interventions to prevent killer diseases such as polio, measles, among others.

Ogunsola who said that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration remained committed to the overall wellbeing and health of the residents, stated that over 100 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) had been renovated across the State, and equipped with state of-the-art facilities, to ensure people have access to quality care, urging them to always patronise PHCs, to justify government’s huge investment in the sector.

Speaking, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, while congratulating the WHO on the occasion of its anniversary, appreciated the organization for the various health interventions through provisions of vaccines as well as technical assistance to improve the health of the people, noting that its support to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 in country was highly commendable.

In her speech, the State Coordinator, WHO, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ojediran said the Organisation would continue to face the vast inequities in access to health services and major gaps in the defences against health emergencies, urging government at all levels to prioritise primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage and the key for attainment of health for all.

He appreciated the Ogun State government for its cooperation in all health programmes.

Highlight of the event was a medical outreach at Olodo Primary Health Center in Odeda Local Government Area of the State.