Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has flagged off the distribution of medical equipment from PROJECT CURE, under the auspices of the Abia State Diaspora Commission to select Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres across the various LGAs of the State.
Speaking while flagging off the distribution of the Hospital and Medical equipment at Government House, Umuahia, the Governor said the effort would trickle down to the grassroots, saying that the intention is to improve the life expectancy of Abians. The Governor regretted that life expentancy in Nigeria has dropped from 50 to 47 years and stressed the need to ensure that this trend is reversed.
Governor Ikpeazu disclosed that taking delivery of the medical equipment was a fallout of his intensive engagement and shuttle diplomacy with PROJECT CURE Donor Agency overseas, expressing joy that the collaboration has yielded fruitful result.
Dr. Ikpeazu who announced that shortly, the Specialist Mother and Child Hospital along Bende Road, Umuahia another Mother and Child Specialist Hospital at Ugwunagbo will be commissioned while the Aba General Hospital will be rejuvenated in the next couple of months, informed that his administration is mindful of handling the two extremes of healthcare being geriatric and mother & care and is doing everything to ensure they are covered. He urged the health care workers to make good use of the items and monitor them closely.
The Governor warned Healthcare workers to ensure the safety of these equipment, insisting that specific officers must take personal responsibility for their care.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji said the equipment delivery is one of the ways to x-ray the achievements of the Governor in the health sector. He said that everything that helps to save life is available in the equipment delivered and assured that they would be deployed to improve lives
In her speech, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Diaspora Commission, Dr. Ngozi Erondu disclosed that the medical equipment came in 4 containers and each of the containers have equipment worth Four Hundred Thousand ($400, 000. 00).
She said that the initiative of the relationship with PROJECT CURE by the Governor in 2018 made it possible for Abia to have these equipment and appreciated the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his commitment and the release of huge sums of money that ensured the ease of the logistics of moving the equipment from the United States to Abia State.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chinagozi Adindu said that healthcare providers in the State are gladdened by the gesture of the Governor as it will help reduce morbidity and mortality rates in the state.
He noted that various interventions of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has to a great extent improved universal health coverage in all nooks and crannies of the state while assuring that the equipment will be put into judicious use.
The event attracted the presence of the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, Wife of the Deputy Governor, Lady Vivian Okochukwu, members of the State Executive Council l and professionals from the health care sector.
Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
28th January, 2022.
