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| Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State |
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated the Board of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), noting that dealing with the scourge of AIDS “is of utmost importance to his administration.”
This is as the Governor disclosed that some concerned stakeholders in the agency have been putting pressure on him to probe the immediate past SACA board chaired by the wife of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi but that he won’t do so, but would rather leave what is gone in the past.
He added that, although there had been some progress with regards to anti-retroviral medication, abstinence from sex remained the best way to control the spread of AIDS.
Noting that a review of the modes of operation of the last board under Mrs Ajimobi revealed that the State gets medical supplies that are on the verge of expiration, Makinde urged the new board to desist from the practice of hoarding medications but work in the good of the people of the state.
The new board is to be chaired by the Governor’s wife, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde while Dr Lanre Abass is to serve as the Executive Secretary.
In his speech shortly after inaugurating the Board, Governor Makinde said: “Health is one of the pillars which this administration is resting on, and dealing with the scourge of HIV in our society is of utmost importance to this administration.
“Some of you like Reverend Babatunde and Dr Titilayo (representing inter-religious body) are also very important to this advocacy because when you either stand on the pulpit or in front of the congregation in the mosque when you are preaching, you can also put the word out there for people to know. There has been a lot of progress on the anti-retroviral medication but abstinence is the best way to control the spread of HIV/AIDS scourge.
“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we have assembled the best hands to manage the affairs of Oyo State Agency for Control of AIDS. I have taken time to reflect on what was the modus operandi in the past and I can say to you clearly that the State used to be supplied with medications that were just about to expire. They have brought some of them to me and, please, that era should be over and be over for good in Oyo State.
“Some people have even came to us and said we must probe activities of the past board and you all know the chairperson of that board. So, it’s a no-go area for me. We want to be forward-looking. Whatever has happened in the past should be in the past. Let us draw the line and focus on our own result areas.
“I want to thank you for accepting to serve the people of Oyo State in this capacity and I also wish you a successful and impactful tenure”, Governor Makinde said.
Earlier, SACA’s Executive Secretary, Dr Abass, maintained that the Makinde administration’s focus on the health sector had seen it paying particular attention to HIV/AIDS response by ensuring that people have access to relevant information, HIV testing services and access to treatment, care and support for people living with the virus.
He, however, noted that though the State had made progress in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services in recent time, a development which he noted impacted positively on the prevalence rate in the State, all stakeholders still had a lot of work to do.
In the same vein, the Governor also approved the appointment of chairmen of the State Transport Corporation, Waste Management board and a number of Special Assistants.
While Mr. Dare Adeleke is to serve as Chairman of the State’s Transport Corporation, Prince Seun Adelore has been named the Chairman, Oyo State Waste Management Board (OYSWMB).
