In a significant move to eradicate tuberculosis and leprosy in the State, the Oyo State Government has donated motorcycles to all Tuberculosis and Leprosy Supervisory (TBLS) Officers across the State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, while handing over the motorcycles to the officers on behalf of the State Government, emphasized that the motorcycle donation through the support of Global Fund is a significant step towards enhancing the mobility of the TBLS Officers. This will lead to improved active surveillance, rapid detection of diseases, enhanced case finding and management, and increased access to remote and hard-to-reach areas, thereby making their work more effective and impactful.
Dr. Ajetunmobi reiterated the Ministry of Health’s unwavering commitment to the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program. The ultimate goal is to reduce tuberculosis in the State to a level where it no longer poses a public health problem in Oyo State and Nigeria at large. This donation is a clear demonstration of the Government’s determination to reach the grassroots level and eradicate these diseases.
The Commissioner, therefore, thanked the various health partners in the State for their efforts to complement the Government in the fight against tuberculosis and leprosy. She charged the TBLS officers to do their work with diligence and passion, adding that the Government is also striving to make their work easy by providing for their basic needs, part of which is motorcycle donations.
She said,
“I appreciate God for making today a reality, even tho it has been in the pipeline for a long time. I want to also thank our partners for not waving the needs of our officers aside. This shows that the little we’re doing, they’re seeing it, and they appreciate us, which is the essence of making this to come. This will help us manoeuvre our way to the hard-to-reach areas where vehicles cannot get to.”
In his remark, the Chairman of the TBLS Officers in Oyo State, Prince Oyebamiji Akanbi, expressed his appreciation to the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for making this possible. He added that this is the first time such a donation will be made to the officers to ease their work. He added that this would go a long way to improving their work, thereby reducing the number of tuberculosis cases in the State.
