The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has said providing affordable healthcare delivery for the downtrodden is an urgent moral and economic necessity to stop medical costs from pushing vulnerable people deeper into poverty.
In a Press release by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Alaafin stated this on Sunday at the official commissioning ceremony of Muslim Hospital , Oyo.
Oba Owoade said most poor families pay for medical care using their own cash, adding that buying medicine or paying hospital bills forces families to skip meals or sell belongings, just as high fees stop people from seeking early treatment for common diseases like malaria.
According to him, “” bringing health care directly to communities is one effective solution to overcome physical barriers. Mobile health clinics and telemedicine services allow health care providers to reach remote or rural populations, reducing the need for travel and ensuring that patients receive care without excessive costs.
“” This directly tackles the issue of insufficient primary health centers and ensures health care is more accessible, improving access to health care for marginalized communities in the country. Mobile clinics have proven effective in bridging the gap in healthcare delivery by providing both preventive and curative services to Nigeria’s rural and underserved populations””.
To tackle inadequate primary health care services in the country, the Paramount Ruler stressed that there is the need for prioritizing their revitalization, adding that srengthening these facilities can significantly improve access to health care for rural populations as they are the first point of contact for most vulnerable populations.
He pointed out that strengthening primary health facilities, expanding micro health insurance, deploying mobile health clinics, and enhancing governance are critical steps toward ensuring equitable healthcare access.
By prioritizing these strategies and ensuring proper implementation, Oba Owoade noted that significant progress can be made towards improving access to healthcare for marginalized groups in Nigeria.
While lauding those involved in the construction of the Muslim Hospital for their proactiveness and sense of devotion,, Alaafin also congratulated the people of Agbogangan community for the new health facility , which he said would go a long way is serving the needs of the people.
Highlights of the event included find raising and conferment of awards.
