The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has donated eight ambulances and medical equipment to the Oyo State Government, in recognition of the efforts of the government at controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
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The Director of Community Prevention, Care and Support Services under NACA, Mr Alexander Ogundipe, who represented the Director-General of NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu, handed over the keys of the ambulances to the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
While taking delivery of the donated ambulances on behalf of the state government, the SSG said the focus of the Governor Makinde-led administration to revolutionise the health sector had begun to yield positive results.
Adeosun assured that the ambulances and other attached medical equipment would be deployed to the targeted facilities accordingly, noting that the state government would appreciate any assistance aimed at augmenting its efforts at improving the health sector.
She stated: “When we came on board as an administration, we found out that the ambulances we had were in very bad condition. So, in the last two and a half years, we have bought ambulances and about fifteen ambulances have been donated to us, which have been all deployed. So, I give you the assurance of His Excellency and the administration that these eight ambulances will also be deployed accordingly.”
In his remark, earlier, Ogundipe pointed out that the donation of the ambulances was made following Governor Makinde’s request at a meeting in Geneva, where he dialogued with the Global Fund, adding that as a result of the confidence reposed in the state and an assessment conducted on the proper utilisation of public equipment in the state so far, NACA agreed to increase the figure of the donated ambulances, as well as medical equipment that had been installed across ten facilities of the state.
Ogundipe said: “On behalf of my Director-General, who has only one appeal, that is, in line with the office of His Excellency, these should be deployed for purpose, kept for purpose, maintained and insured because there will be periodic monitoring and he will like to let you know that it is possible that additional equipment could come based on the maintenance and utilisation of these equipment.”
He, thereafter, handed over to the SSG, the particulars, the keys and the documents transferring the ownership of the eight ambulances and equipment, as well as the medical equipment that had been delivered earlier to the ten facilities.
The event was attended by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Bode Ladipo; the Chairman, State Hospitals Board, Dr Gbola Adetunji and some principal officials from the State Ministry of Health, among others.
