An Elephant chooses how he wants the forest to address him.
There is no gain saying the fact that people respect the elephant, perhaps because of its bogous size amidst other animals.
But when an elephant descends so low in its performance in the forest, ants and vultures will pester on its carecars.
This therefore goes without saying that the acclaimed Elephant Senator Ademola Adeleke has chooses the name it should be called in the family of other animals.
Indeed the Yoruba proverb which says “Tí Obìnrin kò bá dán Ilé oko Méjì wò, kò le mo èyí tó dára jú lo” that is; if a lady has not tasted two husbands she will not be appreciative of the best”, has come to prove itself in the present day Osun State where Governor Ademola Adeleke whom some saw as the Elephant of the jungle but pay leap service to issues of public health.
It is a know fact that cholera is a serious public issue that has claimed lives in the country.
But the so called Elephant “Ademola Adeleke ” who chooses to be addressed as an ant, never saw the need to take necessary actions that will prevent the scourge of the deadly diseases and rather choose the path of dancing and partying.
If you were in Osun State as of the time His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola was the governor and Pharmacist Dr. Olasiji Olamiju as his Special Adviser on Public Health, you could have known that a cat may have the resemblance of a tiger but they quite differs in strength and ability.
It was the ingenuity of Adegboyega Oyetola that led to the establishment of Public Health portfolio in the cabinet that has never surfaced in Osun state.
It was a known fact that the Special Adviser in that office, Dr. Olasiji Olamiju, a Consultant Public Health Pharmacist, took the office to an enviable height with his non relentless efforts at tackling epidemics.
Osun State tackled series of public health diseases including Ebola virus, Lassa fever, Cholera and the almighty Covid – 19.
Not minding the deepest hour of the night Pharmacist Dr. Olasiji Olamiju will engage residents of the state even those living in border towns like Owena, Omi funfun, Ifetedo among other remote areas, all in the job of saving lives
Osun people will not forget the quick intervention of Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration as pursued by Dr. Olasiji Olamiju – AKOL, in the following underlisted public health issues.
*Ebola virus;* Not later than the period the World Health Organisation declared Ebola, a highly contagious disease as public health issue, the administration of former Governor Oyetola swung into action, with his special adviser on public health Dr. Olasiji Olamiju moving from household to household, market places, worship centers, sensitizing the public on the preventive measure of the dreaded disease.
To the glory of God, no life in Osun state was lost to the disease, this is revealing the high concern for human life exhibited by Oyetola’s administration.
*LASSAR FEVER :* Another dreaded disease which could have costed lives of innocent residents of Osun State as of the time it broke was Lassar Fever, it was discovered to be carried by female multi-mamaid rats, that are common in market places, again through his special adviser on Public Health Dr. Olasiji Olamiju, popularly called ” Commissioner Lassa” no one fell victim of the dreaded disease in Osun State, as casualties were recorded in all the neighbouring states, as the Special Adviser staked his life to save others when he embarked on massive sensitization across the nooks and crannies of the state.
Besides, he ensured the provision of free buckets and fumigation of all markets, Ministry, Agencies and Parastatals, public places in Osun state.
*COVID -19 :* God knows, if the dreaded disease that put all nations across the globe in a serious challenge was to break during the lackadaisical administration of Ademola Adeleke, the level of carelessness being exhibited as of now that the world is warning against Cholera might have sent thousands of Osun residents to their early graves.
But, thanks to God that His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, a Man with passion for human lives choosed an expert in public health , Dr.Olasiji Olamiju, popularly called Osun NCDC during the pandemic, as his Special Adviser.
Every resident of Osun state will remember the giant strides of the vibrant Pharm. Dr. Olasiji Olamiju that led to the proper successful monitoring of covid-19 Isolation centers in Osogbo, Ejigbo and Ile- Ife.
As if that was not enough, the immediate past administration through the Special Adviser on public health, Pharmacist Dr. Olasiji Olamiju donated medical equipment, sanitizers, soaps and basins to the Uniosun teaching hospitals and other public places.
The prisoners were not forgotten in the trends, just as done to the Osun Specialist hospital, those at the Ilesa and Ile-Ife correctional centers were not left to die.
*CHOLERA*: This is not the first time that cholera will pose a public health challenge, but the highly cerebral public health consultant who served as the special adviser on public health never wasted time during the administration of former governor oyetola, within twenty four hours, the scourge of cholera was arrested in osun state.
Never loosing his guard, AKOL, as popularly called moved to central mosques on jumats, churches on Sundays and other public places with his mega phone, sponsoring jingles and attending programmes on media houses, sensitizing residents of osun state on how to curtail cholera.
All these were done within 24 hour- Emergency Operations Centers with functional public health PILLARS in place.
The proactive disposition and enviable management of disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics brought good tidings to the coffers of the state such as 10 ambulances, a lot of personal protective materials, cash donations well above two billion naira.
No doubt the appointment of Dr. Siji Olamiju is one of the best decision Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola made as a the Governor of the state
*REHABILITATION OF THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY – TWO PUBLIC HEALTH CENTRES :* It was Adegboyega Oyetola that introduced Ideal public health to Osun state, as before his administration the centres were either regarded as maternity centres, primary health centers and the like.
To say that Adegboyega Oyetola is committed to the healthy living of all is saying the obvious, as he revatilized the 332 PHC’s, equipped them with modern day facilities and provided Tri-cycle ambulances in case of emergencies where motor vehicles could not reach.
As the Cabinet Special Adviser on Public Health, his Ministerial Mandates were to supervise the Osun Primary Healthcare systems for improved health indices of the state, manage disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics , supervise the Local Government healthcare systems of the state such as vaccinations , immunizations, disease surveillance activities etc and safeguard healthy foods and drinks across the the state.
Pharmacist Dr. Olasiji Olamiju through sensitization stopped the use of HYPO in the fermentation of garri and fufu two popular foods.
This if not curtailed could have led to high rate of cancer and even death in osun state.
All these AKOL did, distinctively to the advantage of osun people.
The pertinent question to ask is that, Did Osun people’s health deserves to be neglected, even now, that Cholera, a deadly disease, is killing across the country.
Indeed, the so called £lephant has proved to be an ant in the health sector.