The wife of the Delta State governor and founder, "05 Initiative", Dame Edith Okowa, has assured Deltans that the State government would remain committed to ensure functional and state-of-the-art Primary Health Care Centers and general hospitals across the state.
She disclosed this yesterday in Umunede Ika North East, LGA, at a free medical outreach organized by the 05 Initiative in collaboration with the state's Primary Health Care Development Agency and the " Restore Sight Africa Initiative".
The governor's wife expressed disapproval over patients' lackadaisical attitudes towards seeking medical attention at the health care centers and general hospitals, stressing that the government had strengthened the general hospitals and Primary Health Care centers for quality service delivery in all the 25 LGAs of the state to prevent diseases and premature death.
While attending to patients and inspection of the general hospital in Umunede, to ascertain the quality of facilities and to observe the cases, Dame Okowa expressed optimism that in no distant time, there would be little or no cases of illness and premature death in the state.
Speaking at the occasion also, the Chairman of the State's Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah, commended the 05 Initiative for their effort within five years of existence. Okobah stated, " the 05 Initiative is impact-driven and multi faceted, it does not only cover the health needs of individuals but extends to the spiritual, social and emotional needs of both the vulnerable and under-privileged"
She expressed the agency's commitment to providing high quality service delivery and also to ensure that Deltans have adequate access to affordable, sustainable and high quality primary health care services.
While seeing patients who were afflicted with various kinds of diseases and medical conditions such as sickle Cell, Cataract, High blood Pressure, Malaria, among others, Okobah remarked that the state government had set up Contributory Health Insurance Scheme so Deltans can avail themselves of the opportunity to get medical treatment.
According to Dr. Okobah, "The campaign on diseases and affliction is a war against premature death. We are going to fight it and eradicate it completely by the grace of God. You can see the majority of people here who have been suffering from one ailment or the other. So we are going to do all of these for free. The SMART agenda of the state government under the administration of Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has taken health related issues as priority and we are recording positive results".
Dr Okobah further advised the people to report to the Primary Health Care Centers nearest to them whenever they notice any sign of health challenges.
The Agency's chairman didn't fail to call on the traditional, community and religious leaders, stakeholders, international organizations and influential personalities who are philanthropic, to join hands with the 05 Initiative Foundation for a wider reach of people.
Others who spoke, included the Commissioner For Health, Dr. Onoye Mordi, and the Ika North/East LGA Council Chairman, Hon. Victor Ebonka. They described the medical outreach as as a wellcome develolment and commended the wife of the governor and the partners for their effort.
Some of the patients who spoke in an interview with FLAGNEWS, commended the organizers while expressing relief from health issues.
The free medical outreach attracted the wife of the Delta state governor accompanied by Legislators, wife of the SSG, the state health commissioner, Council chairmen, other past and serving commissioners, Royal fathers, captains of industries, management and staff of the ministry of health and Primary health care development agency, among others.
According to the organisers, the team of medical practitioners would be on ground in the area, for 3 days to administer the treatments and the free medical outreach would go round the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
