Oyo state government, on Friday, inaugurated a 20-man committee to review its public health law to meet current reality and solve health challenges in the state.
The committee, drawn from relevant ministries, agencies, law enforcement agencies, health institution, civil society organizations amongst others, is expected to converge next week for the task ahead.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju, in a chat with journalists, shortly after the inauguration at the Conference Hall of the Ministry, said the move was based on the need to continually preserve and promote community health.
Dr. Adeyanju explained that the law after review will play a significant role in curtailing the outbreak of emerging and re-emerging diseases.
He noted that the job before the committee requires collective efforts, urging them to come up with a workable and applicable laws that will stand the test of time.
He said :” 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” ” 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”
Dr. Adeyanju maintained that the document would help improve the health status and well-being of residents of the state.
He described the people of Oyo state as law-abiding citizens , saying that they will be eager to know the content in the document.
“Of course, it will be a document that the people of the state will adhere to, and it will help us to sustain the health and well-being of the people of Oyo state.
The Oyo state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat, represented at the event by Mr. Patrick Okafor, lauded the state for its pace setting activities.
He revealed that having existing workable laws in place would make the enforcement easier.
He pledged the support of the Nigerian police during the process of reviewing the law and after the enactment.
Earlier, the Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abass Gbolahan, submitted that the review of the state’s public health law is long overdue, as the law has not been reviewed since 1978.
He advised the committee to ensure its draft conforms with national health practices and addresses public health challenges.
The event had in attendance the Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Justice, Hospitals Management Board; Mrs. Evelyn Akintunde and Dr. Mufutau Ayoola, Executive Secretary, Oyo SACA, Dr. Lanre Abass amongst others.
