By Ubani Newman
In his undeterred efforts to better healthcare services in Abia State, the visionary Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu successfully implemented the ‘Save One Million Lives Programme 2018’, which is geared towards improving primary health care in the State.
Governor Ikpeazu’s ability to manage the earlier funds made available for the programme in 2018 by the World Bank has attracted additional funds from the same World Bank. This time around, Abia State won additional six hundred and sixty thousand US Dollars ($660000) only, which is approximately N237million.
The cheque bearing the amount was presented to the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu by the Honourable Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udo Udoma on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari at an impressive ceremony in Aso Rock Villa Banquet Hall on Tuesday, 8th January, 2019. The ceremony was also used to roll out the Basic Health Provision Fund (BHCPF) of which Abia State is one of the 3 key pilot States in Nigeria. The Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu received the cheque from the State Ministry of Health leadership at The Abia State Lodge in Abuja today.
There is no doubt that attracting these additional funds will certainly boost healthcare delivery in Abia State. This is true because of the interest and burning desire of Dr. Ikpeazu to make Abia better.
It is on record that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s sincere commitment to deliver qualitative, affordable and accessible medical care services to the good people of Abia State has positively affected various aspects of healthcare in the State. For instance, Abia State Emergency Medical Care, which ensures that victims of health emergencies in the State access healthcare. This is done through dialing a dedicated number made available for it: 08133556900.
Abia State under Governor Ikpeazu is piloting “Dial-a-Doctor Medical Initiative” in Nigeria, which is also called the Abia State Tele-Health Initiative.
It is an initiative that provides access to medicare to Abia people through phone calls via a dedicated line after purchasing special call cards with Personal Identical Numbers (PIN).
Another health intervention of the Governor in the State is Free Home Healthcare For The Elderly, a healthcare initiative introduced for the elderly and senior citizens in the State. Governor Ikpeazu’s decision to establish this free home healthcare for the elderly was to reduce the number of the elderly people that are admitted to the hospital. The elderly in the State are handled in the areas of blood pressure, pulse and respiratory status assessment, monitoring of nutrition and hydration status, monitoring response and teaching of medication, administering insulin, wound and ostomycare, catheter care, obtaining specimens, such as blood for lab testing, visiting the elderly who has diabetes, cancer, heart disease Alzheimer, hypertension, arthritis, fractures, stroke among very many others. The overall goal here is to improve on the life expectancy in Abia, since life expectancy in Nigeria is between 53 and 55. Apart from these, the Governor had intervened in many other healthcare services, including building and renovation of healthcare centres, maternal & child health etc.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu deserves commendations for making judicious utilisation of the previous funds released by the World Bank which has resulted to the release of this additional funds to Abia state Ministry of Health. The best thing for Abia people and residents to do is to ensure the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is retained in Government House through their PVCs. Indeed, Governor Ikpeazu’s has taken governance beyond the rudimentary.
Congratulations Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D on your victory!
UNU,
09/01/2019
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