The Governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has bagged an Award of Excellence in Public Health from the Institute of Public Health of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun state.
Tosin Ajuwon Of DailyTimes Nigeria Report that the award is aimed at giving recognition to the laudable achievement of the governor in the area of public health and unprecedented improvement in the lives of citizens of the state.
Organizers of the award also said, it was due to his effort at achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, mostly in the area of maternal and child mortality reduction.
Director of the Institute, Dr. Akintunde Abioye Kuteyi said the award would be conferred on the Governor at the venue of the 5th Prof. Lucas Annual Public Health Leadership Forum on the 20th of November 2014.
Dr. Akintunde, who was accompanied by a foremost Public Health Physician, Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas added that the board of the institute of Public Health plans to introduce an annual award of excellence in public health.
"The board and indeed all affiliates of the institute have observed with keen interest your giant strides in Ondo State as you seek to improve the lots of your citizens especially in the area of healthcare delivery.
“Your relentless pursuit of the target of the MDGs, particularly as it relates of the reduction in maternal mortality and child mortality is acknowledged and worthy of commendation”, he said.
For Prof. Adetunbo Lucas, the institute would always partner the government towards achieving more success in its Abiye safe motherhood programme.
Prof. Adetunbo described the health care delivery system of the state as second to none in the country.
Earlier, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, the Commissioner for Health in the state said government has achieved a lot of in the Abiye safe motherhood programme.
Adeyanju revealed that with the recently launched of the 'Abebiye initiative' in the state, child delivery would never be death sentence for pregnant women.
In his response, Governor Olusegun Mimiko saluted the institute for the recognition and for appreciating the effort of the state in the area of its health sector.
Mimiko said it was part of his promises to the people upon inception to develop the health care facilities of the state.
He dedicated the award to the unflinching support of the people of the State.