By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A 20-man committee has been inaugurated by the Oyo State government to review its public health law to meet current realities and solve health challenges in the state.
In a chat with newsmen last Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Olusoji Adeyanju, explained that the move was based on the need to preserve and promote community health continually.
The health practitioner, while speaking shortly after the inauguration of the group at the Conference Hall of the Ministry, noted that members were drawn from relevant ministries, agencies, law enforcement agencies, health institutions, and civil society organizations, amongst others.
After review, he stated that the law would play a significant role in curtailing the outbreak of emerging and re-emerging diseases, noting that the job before the committee requires collective efforts, urging them to come up with workable and applicable laws that will stand the test of time.
“The task ahead of the committee is to ensure the law shows the current reality on the 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,” Mr Adeyanju remarked.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General of Oyo State, Mrs Evelyn Akintunde, maintained that the document, which would be reviewed according to the extant laws of the State, would help improve the health status and well-being of residents of the state.
While stressing the importance of the review, Mrs Akintunde explained that the Oyo State Government identified several lacunae in the law and set up a committee which will come up with a draft containing proposals.
She stressed that the review of the state’s public health law is long overdue, as the law has not been reviewed since 1978, adding that the committee will ensure the draft conforms with national health practices and addresses public health challenges.
“We commend the Ministry of Health and other relevant MDAs who would join in this review, and we will ensure the draft conforms with national practices that will address public health challenges,” she said.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adebola Hamzat, represented at the event by Mr Patrick Okafor, lauded the state for its pace-setting activities, revealing that having existing workable laws in place would make the enforcement easier.
Mr Hamzat pledged the support of the Nigerian police during the process of reviewing the law and after its enactment.
Adedapo Adesanya