By Ikeh Cletus Ngah
Before Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru was sworn in as the fourth Executive Governor of Ebonyi state, the health sector was in a state of anomy with a high surge in the Japa syndrome.
The General hospitals and primary health centres were gasping for breathe. Although, the walls of the General hospitals bear formidable fortresses of decorated walls with beautiful paintings and many magnificent buildings dotting its inner compounds, there were no medical personnel and drugs to attend to the teeming patients. It was simply an empty vessels and glorified health centres.
Armed with the valuable and organic People’s Charter of Needs agenda, Governor Nwifuru swung into action by recruiting over 36 medical personnel- Doctors, Pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists to man the health sector. It would surprise you to know that the entire state had just three medical doctors and one Pharmacist in its employ before Governor Nwifuru came on board. He immediately increased the number to over 44 medical personnel in order to adequately cover the general hospitals and other health facilities in the state.
Matching words with action, the people-oriented Governor of Ebonyi state procured brand new SUVs and ambulances for the general hospitals across the state. Specifically, on January 18, 2024, the Governor through his Chief Press Secretary – Dr Monday Uzor distributed the vehicles to the benefiting medical doctors amid accolades and felicitations to the amiable Governor.
That’s not all, the compassionate Governor has promised to build befitting edifices for the medical doctors at their respective general hospitals. This will make them live in the hospital premises and be readily available to attend to patients at all times. It doesn’t end there, the Governor has procured the latest medical gadgets for the general hospitals and equally gave a matching order that only special medical cases should be referred to the tertiary health institutions. This means that the general hospitals are well equipped to offer superlative health services as obtainable in the Teaching hospitals any where in the country.
As if that wasn’t enough, the governor has revived and expanded the State Health Insurance scheme to accommodate all the state civil servants. This is not a mere rhetoric as he has paid all the counterpart funds to guarantee a seamless operation of the program. He even went further to reveal that efforts are being made to accommodate the private sector in the state Health Insurance Scheme.
However, the burden of this treatise is to explicate how Governor Nwifuru’s deliberate interventions in the health sector has impacted positively on the lives of Ebonyians and the promises it hold for all and sundry.
SUVS and Ambulances distributed to all the General Hospitals in the State
First and foremost, during his electioneering campaigns, the Governor didn’t hide his disdain about the dilapidated health infrastructure in the state, especially the state teaching hospital which he described as a mortuary. On this note, he has secured the approval of the federal government to unbundle the AE-FUNAI Teaching hospital from Ebonyi University Teaching Hospital. This is to encourage healthy competition and expand the frontiers of health service delivery in the state.
The ripple effects of Governor Nwifuru’s radical revival of the health sector will certainly benefit not only Ebonyians but Nigerians in general. Ebonyi state will soon become the best destination for medical tourism and specialized health services. Already, the David Umahi University of Health Sciences, Uburu is offering rare specialized medical services in the area of dialysis, kidney transplant and blood transfusion among other tough medical services sought overseas by some wealthy Nigerians.
There is no gainsaying that the rejuvenation of the health sector will restore the dignity of Ebonyi man, provide employment opportunities to many, create wealth because, health, they say, is wealth; accrue more revenues to the state government and increase the average life expectancy of Ebonyians. This is indeed a noble cause that must receive the support of all well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations.
The hitherto overcrowded AE-FUNAI Teaching hospital, Abakaliki will be decongested to offer better and prompt medical attention to patients. Besides, all tiers of the health sector will be better equipped to offer health services to those closer to them. The mortality ratio will certainly reduce, our pregnant mothers in the village will receive adequate medical attention while the vulnerable populace will get desired medical help.
Already, the General hospitals have all received adequate dosages of required drugs and modern medical equipment for effective health service delivery. Each of the 13 General hospitals can now boast of at least one residential doctor, pharmacist, nurses and other medical personnel.
Interestingly, the morale of the health workers are very high because of increased and prompt payment of their salaries and allowances, ease of transportation, serene working environment and other incentives. Therefore, the era of Japa syndrome of our best medical doctors is gone. The Governor is willing to welcome back any Ebonyi medic who traveled abroad in search of a greener pasture with a firm promise to offer them better packages in the state.
Honourable Ikeh Cletus Ngah
SA Internal Security, (Ivo LGA)
Armed with the valuable and organic People’s Charter of Needs agenda, Governor Nwifuru swung into action by recruiting over 36 medical personnel- Doctors, Pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists to man the health sector. It would surprise you to know that the entire state had just three medical doctors and one Pharmacist in its employ before Governor Nwifuru came on board. He immediately increased the number to over 44 medical personnel in order to adequately cover the general hospitals and other health facilities in the state.
40 number of motorcycles distributed to Officers-incharge of the Primary Health Care Centers
Matching words with action, the people-oriented Governor of Ebonyi state procured brand new SUVs and ambulances for the general hospitals across the state. Specifically, on January 18, 2024, the Governor through his Chief Press Secretary – Dr Monday Uzor distributed the vehicles to the benefiting medical doctors amid accolades and felicitations to the amiable Governor.
That’s not all, the compassionate Governor has promised to build befitting edifices for the medical doctors at their respective general hospitals. This will make them live in the hospital premises and be readily available to attend to patients at all times. It doesn’t end there, the Governor has procured the latest medical gadgets for the general hospitals and equally gave a matching order that only special medical cases should be referred to the tertiary health institutions. This means that the general hospitals are well equipped to offer superlative health services as obtainable in the Teaching hospitals any where in the country.
As if that wasn’t enough, the governor has revived and expanded the State Health Insurance scheme to accommodate all the state civil servants. This is not a mere rhetoric as he has paid all the counterpart funds to guarantee a seamless operation of the program. He even went further to reveal that efforts are being made to accommodate the private sector in the state Health Insurance Scheme.
However, the burden of this treatise is to explicate how Governor Nwifuru’s deliberate interventions in the health sector has impacted positively on the lives of Ebonyians and the promises it hold for all and sundry.
First and foremost, during his electioneering campaigns, the Governor didn’t hide his disdain about the dilapidated health infrastructure in the state, especially the state teaching hospital which he described as a mortuary. On this note, he has secured the approval of the federal government to unbundle the AE-FUNAI Teaching hospital from Ebonyi University Teaching Hospital. This is to encourage healthy competition and expand the frontiers of health service delivery in the state.
The ripple effects of Governor Nwifuru’s radical revival of the health sector will certainly benefit not only Ebonyians but Nigerians in general. Ebonyi state will soon become the best destination for medical tourism and specialized health services. Already, the David Umahi University of Health Sciences, Uburu is offering rare specialized medical services in the area of dialysis, kidney transplant and blood transfusion among other tough medical services sought overseas by some wealthy Nigerians.
There is no gainsaying that the rejuvenation of the health sector will restore the dignity of Ebonyi man, provide employment opportunities to many, create wealth because, health, they say, is wealth; accrue more revenues to the state government and increase the average life expectancy of Ebonyians. This is indeed a noble cause that must receive the support of all well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations.
The hitherto overcrowded AE-FUNAI Teaching hospital, Abakaliki will be decongested to offer better and prompt medical attention to patients. Besides, all tiers of the health sector will be better equipped to offer health services to those closer to them. The mortality ratio will certainly reduce, our pregnant mothers in the village will receive adequate medical attention while the vulnerable populace will get desired medical help.
Already, the General hospitals have all received adequate dosages of required drugs and modern medical equipment for effective health service delivery. Each of the 13 General hospitals can now boast of at least one residential doctor, pharmacist, nurses and other medical personnel.
Interestingly, the morale of the health workers are very high because of increased and prompt payment of their salaries and allowances, ease of transportation, serene working environment and other incentives. Therefore, the era of Japa syndrome of our best medical doctors is gone. The Governor is willing to welcome back any Ebonyi medic who traveled abroad in search of a greener pasture with a firm promise to offer them better packages in the state.
Honourable Ikeh Cletus Ngah
SA Internal Security, (Ivo LGA)
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