The governor announced the approval at a meeting with health professionals in the state held at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

He noted that the state health workers have been going through a lot in the course of discharging their duties, hence the need to encourage them.

“I know that some of you go into depression and other forms of health hazards, so I am going to approve your hazard allowance.

“I want you to liaise with us on how to address the brain drain which is affecting the health sector. I am sure with your collaboration, we can find a solution to this problem”, the governor noted.

Governor Abiodun described the state as an incubation centre for the production of health professionals, adding his administration had intervened in the health sector in the areas of budgetary increment, renovation of health facilities including Primary HealthCare Centres across the State, while Schools of Nursing have been upgraded to Colleges of Nursing for more improved teaching and learning.

While pledging to provide adequate professionals to man the health facilities, the governor said the Mother/ lChild Hospital at Iperu-Remo had been inaugurated, just as a Blood Transfusion Centre, which would be the best around, would be built in the State.

He disclosed that the state was partnering the African Export Bank (AFRIXEMBANK), to complete the building and running of the 250 Bed- Hospital at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, while efforts would be geared towards equipping hospitals with needed laboratory equipment to enable medical scientists perform their duties effectively.

Governor Abiodun appreciated the health workers for supporting his administration through selfless services which he noted has made the sector record successes in less than four years since the inception of the present government.

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In her welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, appreciated the state government for improving the health sector by investing in the Primary Health Centre (PHC), launch of the Health Insurance Scheme and upgrading of facilities in the health institutions.

She said the gathering was to appreciate the governor for taking the sector to the next level in terms of equipment and welfare of health workers, expressing the desire of the workers to join hands with the state government to improve the sector.

Speaking earlier, The State Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Adekunle Ashimi, described the health workers as “special people” who are daily exposed to danger because of the nature of the work, calling for the payment of hazard allowance to the workers.

He said though the government has invested so much in the health sector, more are needed to be done to further place the sector in higher pedestal.