100 DAYS: Aiyedatiwa commissions Pharma-grade Warehouse
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has commissioned the newly upgraded Central Medical Stores to a Pharma-grade Warehouse in Akure, the state capital.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said top priority of his administration was access to safe, quality, and affordable medicines.
The Governor said the project was a major leap in strengthening the state’s healthcare delivery system as well as a bold step toward eliminating counterfeit and substandard drugs from public health facilities.
He said the upgrade of the Central Medical Stores was the result of a strategic partnership between the Ondo State Government, the Federal Government, and the Global Fund through counterpart funding arrangements.
The Ondo Governor assured the public that the new warehouse would strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and procurement systems.
“It became imperative to upgrade the facility to a Pharma-grade Warehouse that adheres to international best practices for drug storage, thereby protecting the potency, safety, and quality of all health commodities
“With this facility, we are taking concrete steps to eliminate fake medicines from our supply chain. We have instituted strict procurement policies to ensure that all drugs are sourced exclusively from registered and reputable pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers,” he added.
In his welcome address, Executive Secretary, Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (ODHCMA), Pharmacist (Dr.) Amos Ayegbusi, thanked Governor Aiyedatiwa for his support, particularly the prompt release of counterpart funds that enabled the project’s timely completion.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, at the commissioning, Mrs. Celine Onunkwo, Coordinator of the National Product Supply Chain Management Program, described the facility as a critical milestone towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
She emphasized that the warehouse will serve as the backbone of an integrated, efficient system for storing and distributing essential medicines and public health commodities.
Onunkwo commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to healthcare development and called for sustained investment in distribution networks and warehouse maintenance to ensure long-term success.
