Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State said his administration would employ no fewer than 1,000 health practitioners to fill the vacuum created by the doctors and nurses who left the state hospitals for greener pastures abroad.

Mr Aiyedatiwa stated this on Wednesday at the ongoing 40th annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) in Akure, the state capital.

He said, “We understand that many of those we employed in the past have relocated abroad for greener pastures, so we have decided to employ up to 1000 health professionals across all cadres to replace those who have left.”

Represented by Olayide Adelami, his deputy, Mr Aiyedatiwa said although the recruitment was still ongoing, it was imperative to have more capable hands in the state health sector.

According to him, the health sector of the state is critical especially to its development.

He also stressed that the current administration, as part of its topmost agenda, was building more health facilities and upgrading existing ones in reality with modern technology.

“We are undertaking structural and infrastructural upgrades of our health facilities. For example, the construction of 500 bedded wards in the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH).

“Also, the construction and renovation of health facilities and replacement of obsolete medical equipment with ultra-modern down-to-the-earth equipment, across all levels of care,” the governor said.

While urging health workers to always work in harmony in formulating the best policies for the government in improving the health sectors, Mr Aiyedatiwa saluted the leadership of APHPN for holding the conference in Ondo.

He specifically noted that the theme of the ongoing conference for this year, “Repositioning Public Health in a New Political Dispensation”, was timely for stakeholders to suggest solutions for the government to improve healthcare.

“To reposition public health, we must agree that it is through collective efforts of all the stakeholders: the government, health professionals, patients and partners.

“As a government, we will continue to improve on our performances. At this juncture, I want to assure all that we will not rest on our oars until we ensure that public health is fully repositioned. I wish that our health professionals would work as a team and complement the efforts of the government,” Mr Aiyedatiwa added.

Alphonsus Isara, president of APHPN, remarked that the event will allow health practitioners to discuss ways to reposition healthcare services in the country.

Salma Anas, the President’s special adviser on health, assured the people that President Bola Tinubu was committed to reforming the health sector.

Earlier, the keynote speaker at the event, Adesegun Fatusi, recommended that the APHPN must contribute to the increased production of health workers and engage in data-driven and research-based decisions towards improved health system performance.

Mr Fatusi, however, urged public health practitioners in the country to position themselves as topmost advocates for improved health development.