The Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi has called on the Oyo State Government to urgently address the “critical shortage” of healthcare personnel and the deteriorating state of infrastructure at the grassroots level.
The Monarch made the passionate appeal on Tuesday during a strategic consultative meeting at his palace with a high-level delegation from the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board (OYSPHCB), led by Mr. Olarinde Samuel Olaoye.
While acknowledging the state’s ongoing health initiatives, the Okere emphasized that the effectiveness of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) is being hampered by a lack of manpower. He specifically advocated for the
Immediate employment and deployment of health workers to rural communities.
The Monarch stated, noting that modern medical interventions must harmonize with local cultural practices to achieve 100% immunization coverage.
He shifted his focus to the social environment surrounding educational institutions. He called for a “strategic crackdown” on environmental and social risks near schools, aimed at protecting the moral and physical well-being of students.
He also lauded the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing Food Banks within Primary Health Centres, a move designed to tackle the dual challenges of malnutrition and infant mortality simultaneously.
Olabisi issued a direct charge to parents in Saki and across Oyo State to prioritize their children’s health and future: