By Bonny Nwankwo – Features
The Realizing that Health is pivotal in the attainment of progress in any organized society, the 4th Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, a Builder par excellence, during his guber campaigns articulated his plans to revitalize the Health Sector.
In a well documented manifesto containing the people’s charter of needs, the renaisant leader, Nwifuru stated: “In full cognizance that Health is wealth, my administration shall be committed to improve healthcare delivery in the State, through:
A. Re-establishment of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki
B. Improvement of service delivery in the general hospitals.
C. Staffing and equipping of the existing primary healthcare development agencies to enhance quality services.
D. Strengthening midwife service scheme.
E. Introduction of regular free medical outreaches and health care awareness campaigns, especially in underserved areas.
F. Collaboration with health care professionals, faith-based organizations and development partners in healthcare delivery.
G. Enhancement of capacity of health care professionals through exchange programs and training.
H. Introduction of medical volunteer service scheme to support health care delivery in the State.
I. Provision of Government Community health scheme for the less privileged and vulnerable ones.
J. Supporting Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme and
K. Provision of Health insurance scheme for Ebonyians of 80 years and above.
Without waiting a while after his swearing-in, His Excellency the Governor hit the ground running in bringing this top-notch blueprint to reality.
First, His Excellency being acquainted with the fact that part of the teething challenges bedeviling good health Care delivery in our Primary Health Care Facilities is the dearth of human resources for health, approved the recruitment of 39 Pharmacists, 39 Medical Doctors, 39 Medical Laboratory Scientists, and 39 Sundry Medical Staff to boost the manpower of the Health Care Givers in that tier of the healthcare sector.
As if that is not enough, His Excellency, after a few weeks in office, has had interactions with the Abakaliki Medical and Dental Consultants on how to best drive his ideologies to further manifestation in the Health Sector.
He had also interfaced with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Branch on how to scale up drug access and distribution within the Salt of the Nation.
Some of the outcomes of these interactions include the declaration of intention by His Excellency to reintroduce the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital for maximum use by Medical Students of the University.
His Excellency the Governor has also announced plans to establish a drug production factory in the State and float an upwardly mobile drug revolving scheme that would be fashioned after the drug revolving Scheme of the Federal Republic of Rwanda.
By so doing, His Excellency hopes to bring the practice of medical quackery in the State to its barest minimum and improve the Health conditions of Citizens.
Through the establishment of a drug production factory, Ebonyi State will soon be a reference point for medical excellence.
With the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital Uburu, functioning at maximum capacity and the Governor introducing his reforms and innovations across the three tiers of the health sector in the State, Ebonyi is sure to become an African destination for health tourism.
Appreciable funds are also expected to accrue from the enterprise in the long run thereby adding to the resources available for the State Government to deploy in the development of other critical sectors of the State.
His Excellency had consistently made known his burning desire to make the State a model in the Health and Education sectors before the end of his administration in the State.
Because the governor has a dependable track record of living up to promises, Ebonyians are rest assured that it is just a matter of time before betokens are etched in the marble of good and purposeful governance.
