By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government is to review its public health law to meet current realities and solve health challenges in the state.
The state’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju said this on Friday while speaking with journalists at the inauguration of a 20-man committee drawn from relevant ministries, agencies, law enforcement agencies, health institutions, civil society organizations amongst others.
Dr Adeyanju stressed that the move was based on the need to continually preserve and promote community health in the state, adding that the law after review will play a significant role in curtailing the outbreak of emerging and re-emerging diseases.
The Permanent Secretary pointed out that the job before the committee requires collective efforts, urging them to come up with workable and applicable laws that will stand the test of time.
“The task ahead of the committee is to ensure the law shows the current reality on ground in the health sector and public health issues that are of public health importance”, he said
Dr Adeyanju added, “The people of Oyo state will benefit from it and their health will be sustained and promoted, I believe the committee will do justice to that”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General of Oyo State, Mrs. Evelyn Akintunde while speaking said the document, which would be reviewed according to the extant laws of the State, would help improve the health status and well-being of residents of the state.
Mrs. Akintunde noted that Oyo state government identified several lacunae in the law and set up a committee which will come up with a draft containing proposals, and that the review of the state’s public health law is long overdue, as the law has not been reviewed since 1978, adding that the committee will ensure the draft conforms with national health practices and addresses public health challenges.
“We commend the ministry of health and other relevant MDAs who would join in this review, and we will ensure the draft conforms with national practices that will address public health challenges”, she said.
Oyo state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat represented by Mr. Patrick Okafor, lauded the state for its pace setting activities adding that having existing workable laws in place would make the enforcement easier.
CP Hamzat pledged the support of the Nigerian police during the process of reviewing the law and after the enactment.
