The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and improving basic education, as it graduated participants of the National Health Fellowship Programme and issued engagement letters to 261 new interns under the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel (OGUNTEACH).
Speaking at the graduation of Cohort 1.0 and unveiling of Cohort 2.0 of the National Health Fellowship Programme at the June 12 Cultural Centre, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, described the initiative as a transformative intervention in grassroots healthcare delivery.
Dr. Coker said the programme, a Federal Government initiative under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was designed to strengthen primary healthcare across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. In Ogun State, one fellow was deployed to each of the 20 local government areas to drive impact at the grassroots.
According to her, the state recorded measurable gains from the programme over the past year. She disclosed that more than 5,000 residents benefitted from targeted medical outreaches, with hundreds treated for malaria, hypertension and diabetes, while essential medicines were distributed free of charge and safe deliveries supported.
She added that thousands also benefitted from water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, including renovation of public facilities, distribution of sanitary materials in schools and community sensitisation on improved hygiene practices. Over 500 women were educated on nutrition, antenatal care and safe delivery practices, while digital innovations such as MamaReach were introduced to strengthen emergency referrals.
“Our fellows have monitored over 200 primary healthcare centres, installed solar lighting in underserved facilities and revitalised previously dormant PHCs through stakeholder collaboration,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the Ogun State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr. Folarin Solape, noted that leadership development remains central to the reform agenda, expressing confidence that the fellowship would strengthen youth capacity in the health sector.
Meanwhile, in the education sector, 261 interns under OGUNTEACH received their engagement and posting letters at the Secretariat of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Presenting the letters, SUBEB Chairman, Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, described the two-year internship as an opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience and contribute meaningfully to the development of basic education in the state.
He urged the interns to remain dedicated, warning against attempts to influence their postings. Ifede also assured that those who perform diligently, particularly in rural schools, may be considered for permanent employment upon completion of the programme, subject to recommendations from their respective schools.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Aisha Hassan and Mr. Olusanmi Akinlabi thanked the state government for the opportunity and pledged to remain committed throughout the programme.