Ondo Mulls Establishment Of Cancer Treatment Centre

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday disclosed that the state is considering establishing a world-class cancer treatment centre.

Aiyedatiwa, who also disclosed that no fewer than 4,265 babies have been produced by the state Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS) since its inception, noted that the establishment of the Cancer Treatment Centre will stop the stress of accessing the treatment disease in the state.

The governor stated this through the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Awolowo Banji Ajaka, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof Simi Odimayo, in Akure, the Ondo state capital, at a program organised by the Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, for state government officials to give their offices’ scorecards.

While noting that the disease has become a common and very serious disease in our society, Aiyedatiwa said those affected by the disease need urgent treatment, hence the need for the establishment of a Cancer Treatment Centre in the state.

He said, “We will establish a Cancer Treatment Center in Ondo State. As we all know, this is a common and severe disease in the country now. Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has promised that we will establish it soon.

“If you go to Lagos to treat this disease now, patients wait for several months before being attended to in the Lagos facility. Most of the treatment centres are not common.”

On the Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS), Aiyedatiwa said the scheme, designed by his late principal and former Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in 2022, was for pregnant women and children under five years of age to prevent maternal mortality in the state.

According to him,  over 4,265 babies, among which are 380 twins, 10 triplets, and two quadruplets, all delivered under the state equity scheme.

His words: “Implementation of Abiyamo Maternal and Child Insurance Scheme (Abiyamo Scheme) -fully funded by Ondo State Government where pregnant women and under 5 children are fully covered as vulnerable. The Abiyamo scheme has recorded over 46,741 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children below five years of age).

“Total deliveries 4,265; Twins 380; Triplets 10; Quadruplets two and all services are provided at no cost to the beneficiaries”

On healthcare financing, Aiyedatiwa said the establishment of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, which aimed at ensuring Universal Health Coverage for Ondo State citizens, birthed 56,700 enrollees across 203 wards in 18 LGAs of the state.