The Executive Director of the Edo State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (Edo SACA), Flora Oyakhilome, has passed away in Lagos, following a brief illness.
Her death comes three years after she was honoured with the 2021 Zonal Outstanding SACA Performance Award.
Oyakhilome, a key figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Edo State, died on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at a hospital in Lagos.
She had been battling an undisclosed ailment, which led to her initial admission at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) before being transferred to Lagos for further treatment.
An official from the Edo State Ministry of Health confirmed the tragic news to Thenewspad, stating, “Yes, she has been sick. It happened the day before yesterday. It was in Lagos she died.”
Oyakhilome’s death has yet to be formally addressed by her family or the Edo State government. However, her passing has sent shockwaves through the health community and beyond, as she was widely recognized for her dedication to improving public health in the state.
Before her appointment as Executive Director of Edo SACA by Governor Godwin Obaseki, Oyakhilome served in the Edo State Ministry of Health, where she had a long and distinguished career. She was known for her relentless advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, which significantly advanced the state’s HIV/AIDS response.
Oyakhilome, a native of Edo Central Senatorial District, was a driving force behind numerous community outreach programs aimed at achieving an HIV/AIDS-free state. Her work earned her multiple accolades and widespread respect.
As news of her death spread, tributes began to pour in from across the state and beyond. Dr. Neville Obakhedo, a lecturer at the University of Benin, is among the many prominent Nigerians who have expressed their condolences and paid tribute to Oyakhilome’s legacy.
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