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Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has said he won’t probe the wife of the immediate past governor of the state, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, who was the board Chairman of Oyo State Agency for the control of AIDS(SACA) in the last administration in the state.
Makinde stated this while inaugurating the new board which would be headed by his wife, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde.
The governor said some concerned stakeholders have been putting pressure on him to probe the SACA board under Mrs Ajimobi but said he had decided to let go.
His words:“Some people came to us and said we must probe activities of the past board and you all know the chairperson of that board. So, it’s a no-go area for me. We want to be forward-looking. Whatever has happened in the past should be in the past. Let us draw the line and focus on our own result areas.”
He added that, although, there had been some progress made regrading anti-retroviral drugs, abstinence remained the best way to control the spread of the disease.
While noting that a review of the mode of operation of the last board under Mrs Ajimobi revealed that the State get medical supplies that are on the verge of expiration, he urged the new board to desist from the practice of hoarding drugs but rather work towards serving the good people of the state.
“Health is one of the pillars which this administration is resting on and dealing with the scourge of HIV in our society is of utmost importance to this administration.
“Some of you like Reverend Babatunde and Dr Titilayo (representing inter-religious bodies) are also very important to this advocacy because when you either stand on the pulpit or in front of the congregation in the mosque when you are preaching, you can also put the word out there for people to know. There has been a lot of progress on the anti-retroviral medication but abstinence is the best way to control the spread of HIV/AIDS scourge.
“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we have assembled the best hands to manage the affairs of Oyo State Agency for Control of AIDS. I have taken time to reflect on what was the modus operandi in the past and I can say to you clearly that the state used to be supplied with medications that were just about to expire. They have brought some of them to me and please that era should be over and be over for good in Oyo State.
“I want to thank you for accepting to serve the people of Oyo State in this capacity and I also wish you a successful and impactful tenure,” Makinde said.
Earlier, the new Executive Secretary of SACA, Dr Lanre Abass, maintained that the Makinde administration’s focus on the health sector had seen it paying particular attention to HIV/AIDS response by ensuring that people have access to relevant information, HIV testing services and access to treatment, care and support for people living with the virus.
He noted that although the state had made tremedous progress on HIV treatment and prevention in recent times, a development he claimed had reduced the prevalence rate in the state.
Abass, however, said all stakeholders still have a lot of work to do in reducing the prevalence rate to the barest minimum.