https://www.facebook.com/abiaonline/videos/883721281797982/
by Ubani Newman Ubani (UNU)
It is common knowledge that every reasonable administration develops plans, activities and programmes with which such administration could be popularly known for.
Most of these programmes and activities usually outlive the administrations.
Former administrations in Abia State have from time to time introduced one programme or another which they were known for. However, no administration within and outside Abia State, within the economic bracket of the State, has done what Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is doing in the Abia State.
The current administration in Abia State, in line with its avowed commitment to making Abia great, has introduced many innovations that are rare in today’s political leadership.
In this series, some of those programmes and innovations would be highlighted. One of the innovations of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ph.D is the “DIAL-A-DOC MEDICAL INITIATIVE”
This initiative is also called the ABIA STATE TELEHEALTH INITIATIVE (ABTI).
It is an initiative that Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu approved for a Health Consultancy Outfit known as DIAL A DOC through the State Ministry of Health. The outfit was expected to carry out a pilot scheme of the initiative which they did with better results following.
DIAL-A-DOC MEDICAL INITIATIVE provides access to Medicare to people via phone call.
Under the initiative, the outfit provides special call cards with Personal Identical Numbers (PIN). It works through getting the card, scratching it to reveal the PIN. Having seen the PIN, the person would call a designated number which links him to the DIAL A DOC call center, provides the PIN to the call receiver and then automatically gets hooked to a doctor who then attends to him through his phone conversation. After the conversation on phone, the Doctor may decide on the type of diagnoses to be done or other options to take. It is incumbent on the Doctor to either send one to a particular clinic in Abia community, if necessary or prescribe necessary drugs. It is note worthy that the Consultant works hand in glove with government clinics in the State, hence the patients may be referred to primary, secondary or tertiary health care service centre as the case may be.
The Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has gotten the special card presented to him by the Lead Consultant of DIAL-A-DOC MEDICAL INITIATIVE, Dr. Omas Ubiame and her team. He had equally scratched it and made a call as well got hooked on to a doctor immediately.
Abia people and residents are expected to identify with this initiative, especially as the team serves people through phone calls and usually worked with Primary Healthcare Centres which is the first port of call for sick persons especially in the rural areas.
Soon, this scheme will be extended to the entire Abia State as it has many advantages including helping those who are in need of a Doctor even at midnights, granting patients opportunity to make choice of whether to talk with a male or female Doctor.
Indeed Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has done great and rare thing by introducing this innovation, which has made Abia the first State, not just in Nigeria but in the whole black Africa to initiate and implement this scheme.
There is no doubt that the scheme, having succeeded in the 15 Local Government Areas where it was piloted within a six month period, would succeed in the entire State. Kudos must be given to the Governor for placing Abia on the map of development.
SUPPORT A GOVERNOR AT WORK!
UNU,
09/04/2018
Watch out for ‘Part Two’ soon…
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