Obaseki inaugurates committee to oversee PHC; urges opposition parties to unite for Edo

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, on Wednesday, inaugurated a committee on Primary Health Care (PHC) remodeling, tasking its members to facilitate the proper functioning of PHCs in the state.

 The inauguration took place at Edo State Government House in Benin City where Governor Obaseki noted that the current state of PHCs in the state was not ideal and the system needed to be overhauled.

 While the governor stressed that the remodeling initiative was aimed at ensuring that at least one standardized PHC was established in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, he added that it would also help reduce the burden on secondary and tertiary health centers, as well as the cost patients spent to access health services.

 The governor therefore urged the committee to assess the current facilities of PHCs including cold stores, identify the challenges confronting the centers, as well as come up with implementable plans for solving these challenges.

 Furthermore, he explained that directing efforts towards Primary health care was an efficient way to spend Health care budget, adding that it would reduce maternal and infant mortality rate, and generally improve health care delivery system in the State.

 He appreciated the members of the committee and implored them to complete the stated objectives within a span of 6 weeks, while Prof Mrs Obehi Okojie, leading the committee, revealed that the Health indices in the country were appalling, and strengthening of the PHCs would help Nigeria solve 70% of its health problems.

 She, however, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve, saying that the committee would live up to its responsibility and carry out systematic reviews of existing health data in order to revivify PHC in the state.

Meanwhile, the Governor has issued a clarion call to opposition parties in the State to join hands for building and developing Edo State, adding that his administration was ready to work with them to develop the state. 

The governor, however, noted that they should not expect political appointments, as his administration was that of All Progressives Congress (APC), and he would respect the dictates of the party’s constitution.

 This was as he fielded questions on the verdict of the Supreme Court, which validated his declaration as the elected governor of Edo State, even as he also expressed confidence in the outcome of the legal battle that followed.

 He said, “We were not surprised with the victory because Edo people voted for us.

“The judgment shows that there was no dispute about the election; the Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the victory, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed it, and now the Supreme Court has finally put the matter to rest, as there is no longer dispute of who Edo people voted for to be their governor.”

 Stressing that members of the opposition political parties in the state were no less Edo citizens, he encouraged them to join hands with his administration, as he was ready to give them the opportunity to build and develop the state, and make it the economic hub of the nation.

 On where the road led following the conclusion of the legal tussle on the governorship election, the governor said his administration would continue to maintain the pace of development already commenced with the massive repair of road networks in the state.

 Governor Obaseki continued that his government was passionate about basic education and primary healthcare system in the state; hence, his inauguration of the Committee on Primary HealthCare Remodeling, and the concluded plans to inaugurate another committee on basic education.

 “If we get these two things right, I am very sure our development indicator will rise. We must get it right in the state,” he concluded.

 END