About two weeks ago, a study by WellNewMe, a top health technology company that specialises in data-gathering and analysing in Nigeria, ranked Osun State second with most efficient healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The company uses the World Health Organisation Standard parameters in gauging the health system. The parameters include steady financing mechanism, a properly-trained and adequately-paid workforce, well-maintained facilities and access to reliable information that will keep the delivery updated with international best practices. In total sum, Osun was only surpassed by Anambra State.

As a resident of the state who is aware of the crisis that trailed a comment made by one of the senators at the National Assembly, precisely, Osun East lawmaker, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, on the twenty million US dollars grant for revitalisation of the health system in the state, I personally swung into action. The mission was simply to fact-check the report of WellNewMe.

I chose three communities outside the state capital, and they all belong to semi-urban and rural areas. My decision to leave Osogbo, the state capital, where I work and largely stay, is to know if those in rural areas are captured in the quality healthcare that is reportedly being enjoyed by Osun people, if true at all.

Let me say that it took me several days before I could gather my facts across the three communities.

Healthcare delivery in Osun has been the major achievement Governor Gboyega Oyetola boasts of in his first year in office. It’s obvious that several dilapidated buildings or better put, death abode called health-centres have taken a new look. Everyone sees that. What of the content? Are they experiencing new touches? And, most importantly, the output: which is the service to the populace.

These are the sub-areas I added to my theme in order to get to the root of the matter. My first experience was when there was an accident in Ilobu, my hometown. It involved an okada rider and a pedestrian. The two got injured. As someone who has been in the area for several years, such a situation was expected to be taken to private hospitals in the area, as it has been the practice. But these were taken to a public health centre (PHC); and the treatment and availability of necessary drugs, equipment and staff were cause for people to accidentally get into discussion about Oyetola’s achievements in health sector.

One man said: “Although I don’t like Oyetola, but this healthcare revitalisation is good. Don’t you know how much Anuolu will bill this people?” Another person interjected, “especially when it’s accident.” The conversation outlived my presence at the scene.

At hospitals where I went, I ensured I mixed with those on ground; both the care-givers and their patients. This was to ensure I get adequate information that I wanted. And, in fairness, they unanimously thanked the governor for the healthcare revitalisation.

At one of the health-centres the matron whom I met, said: “Seriously, things have changed in the last eighteen months. They (government) give us regular supply of drugs and other materials. We don’t run out of it before they give us and as you can see it has increased the patronage by over 100 per cent.” When asked about their welfare, the madam noted: “That’s why we are thanking the governor. Our salaries come regularly and not half as it used to be before Oyetola. Just help us tell them that they are owing us fifteen months salaries (half in 30 months).”

In another hospital in the Central Senatorial District, the nurses on duty, four of them, also praised the governor. In fact, one happened to be from my family compound, so that made her to be free while talking to my team. She said: “In fact, it’s another life. It wasn’t like this before. The hospital is very active now. We now have over 80 per cent increment in patronage. The ante-natal has increased and I can tell you, aburo (younger brother), maternal mortality is becoming a thing of the past.”

When asked about welfare, she said: “The government has implemented COHESS, but let me say that our PAYE (pay as you earn) is becoming too much. About N12,000 was deducted from my salary this month. Imagine!”

The narrative was the same in all other hospitals visited. Only that some complained of being short-staffed and some needed more furniture for office use. All of them said they have remained at the same level since 2010. Promotion has been on paper, but not reflected in salaries. To confirm these statements, I checked their records and they tallied with their statements.

Before I’ll address the challenges highlighted, I think I should concur with WellNewMe on the standard of healthcare delivery in Osun and also give kudos to Governor Gboyega Oyetola. It shows the investment was in the right direction and it’s now yielding expected results. If we can have it like this at the federal level, maybe, the ongoing #EndSARS protest wouldn’t have been this intensified.

With these testimonies from healthcare givers and receivers, it’s safe to say Osun is getting it right in health sector. If our governor can also choose another sector and work on it in his third year; because obviously, second year is gone, we may say we’re getting it right. The intra-city roads are calling for your attention sir. People going to hospital will also pass through roads. Kindly look into that!

To the issues raised on promotion and insufficient staff, I want to believe that no one will be happy being at a spot for ten years. And, sir, after you’ve revitalised the system, you should be expecting a spike in healthcare patronage. This simply means more hands will be needed. Kindly let’s have a total overhaul. I believe the result will be greater. Graduates are leaving NYSC on yearly basis, please get them engaged. On the suffocating PAYE, I think it would be better to listen and investigate it and, probably, enlighten the workers on why it is so, if intentional or give room for complaint, if accidental.

•Tiamiyu, Journalist and Publisher of Insight Multi-Links Media, is chairman of Osun Online Media Practitioners Association.

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