OPERATIONS/SERVICES AVAILABLE

The department is concerned majorly with the preventive, promotive, curative and social aspect of medicine. The complement of staff involved in the activities of the department include Community Health Physicians, Public Health and Infection Control Nurses, Nutritionists, Environmental Health Officers, Horticulturists, Scientific officers and Community Health Extension Workers.

The different units in the department are as follows: Infection Control and Research Centre.  Endemic Diseases Unit, Immunization Unit, Health Education Unit, Reproductive Health Unit, Environmental Health Unit, Horticulture and Farm Management Unit, School Health Services, Nutrition Demonstration and Rehabilitation Unit, Urban Comprehensive Health Services at Ijebu-Owo etc. The activities of the different units are stated below:

Family Health Unit

The activities in this unit include Family Planning services which are carried out on weekdays i.e. Monday to Friday ( 8am – 6pm). The services rendered include counseling and administration of family planning commodities both for new clients presenting newly for family planning services and those on follow-up visits. Other available services include Adolescent Health clinic where counseling is done for clients from the age 11- 19 years on both sexual and contraceptive use. The clinic is from Monday to Friday (8am – 6pm). Lastly, there is Antenatal care services where pregnant women are health educated on appropriate breast-feeding practices, nutrition during pregnancy and the vaccines approved under NPI. The eligible mothers are also immunized with tetanus toxoid vaccine.

Health Education Unit

This unit is concerned with enlightening individuals and groups of patients on matters affecting their health. The ultimate aim of health education is positive behavioral modification. This is done at the clinics, wards and schools, religious houses and marketplaces.

Infant Welfare Unit

The activities in this unit are carried out two days a week i.e. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and these include immunization activities, health education of nursing mothers on exclusive breastfeeding, weaning practices, infant nutrition, growth monitoring, family planning, care of the baby’s umbilical cord among others. Other services provided are food demonstration and nutrition rehabilitation.

School Health Services Unit

The school health services is a programme run by the school health team that ensures qualitative, cost effective, technically sound, culturally acceptable, medical and psychosocial health care to schools aged children in Owo Local Government area and it’s environs.

However, the department in collaboration with Dental and (ENT) Ear, Nose and Throat Department, have been able to deliver the school health services effectively. Personnel involved in services delivery include: Community Health Physicians, Dentists, Ear Nose and Throat specialists, Public Health Nurses, Dental therapist, Nutritionist, and Environmental Health officers.

Nutrition Unit

This unit is run in conjunction with the infant welfare clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nutritional assessments of the infants are carried out and mothers are health educated on exclusive breastfeeding, weaning practices, infant nutrition and growth monitoring. Other services provided are food demonstration and nutrition rehabilitation. Nutritional counseling is also given during the Antenatal Clinic sessions and at Endemic clinic.

Endemic Disease Unit 

Endemic disease clinic is on Mondays and Wednesdays (8am to 1pm). This is where care is provided for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), Tuberculosis, leprosy, parasitic infections like onchocerciasis, filariasis e. t. c. Adherence counselling for PLWHA both for pre-ART and ART to ensure 100 per cent adherence on anti-retroviral drugs is also a key aspect of the endemic clinic. Health education and nutritional counselling services are also provided. The TBL/DOT Centre is also available in the Department. The activities there include screening of patients for tuberculosis, directly observed therapy for patients who are diagnosed with Tuberculosis, counseling  and follow-up of such patients. The Anti TB drugs are supplied free of charge.

Infection Control and Research Centre (ICRC)

• Consist of a Lassa fever treatment center (40 bedded facility with a dedicated hemodialysis unit  and another 40 bedded facility with 4 bedded intensive care unit and dedicated pharmacy), a BSL 3 Molecular laboratory with a Biobank, and a Research Centre. Lassa fever case management commenced in January 2017
• Collaborate with other National and International Organizations for Lassa case Management and research. These organisations include: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control [NCDC], Alliance For Medical Action [ALIMA],and African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID).
• The department plays a leading role in the running of the Emergency Operation Centre {EOC}in the Centre and Owo LGA. The EOC is usually activated to respond to emergencies and outbreaks such as Lassa fever, COVID 19 etc. 

Other units in the department include Environmental Health, Horticultural and Farm Management Units.  The

Achievements

• Centre of excellence in the management of Lassa fever in West Africa and recorded lowest case fatality rate in Nigeria ( 2023).
• 1^st site and reference Centre for HIV/ AIDS care in Ondo State.
• Most improved Treatment Centre award in Nigeria (2019 International Lassa Fever Conference).
• West African Postgraduate Medical College full accreditation to train Resident doctors ( 2024).
• National Postgraduate Medical College full accreditation to train Resident doctors (2023).
• Involved in some research activities in partnership with international collaborators. The on-going studies include: Enable 1.5, Integrate Project and C111 Lassa vaccine trial.

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

• Dr Ayodeji O.O – Consultant Sp Grd 1, HOD & former HCS
• Dr Omotoso B.A- Consultant Sp Grd 1 & former HOD
• Dr Subulade A.A.-Consultant, Coord, Residency training & Research
• Dr Kareem A.O-Consultant &PIC Ijebu Annex
• Mrs Olaseigbe B.O-Director & Head Nursing Services FMC Owo
• Mrs Medunoye R A-Deputy Director, Preventive Nursing Services
• Mrs Odebode A-Deputy Director Nursing& Sectional Head (Annexes)