Ebonyi State Government has made plans to establish one Specialist Hospital in each of the three Senatorial Zones to boost healthcare delivery.
Governor Francis Nwifuru disclosed this in a message to the official signoff and handover ceremony organised by the Medicines Sans Frontier, MSF, otherwise called Doctors Without Borders held in, Abakaliki.
This decision, according to Governor Nwifuru is in furtherance of his commitments to provide healthcare services to the people of Ebonyi State.
He commended the MSF for various interventions in the state noting that MSF was the official health ally of the state in 2018, and has been good in surveillance, treatment, and management of Lassa Fever cases.
“As a Governor, I am satisfied with the proactive, relentless and very tremendous efforts you have made in our health sector since your arrival to Ebonyi State in 2018. I believe that sooner than later we shall overcome and eliminate in totality the dangers of Lassa Fever and with your constant backup our acceleration in subduing this deadly virus will be faster and better”
“At this point, I wish to implore your leadership in their rank and files to consider our sincerest appeal and continue our partnership for the sake of humanity. I promise to offer you every feasible support you would ever need from us to accomplish your set goals in Ebonyi State.”
To holistically tackle the Lassa Fever and other outbreaks, the Governor said his administration has provided ambulances and employed trained health workers, including Doctors, Nurses, Radiographers, Laboratory Scientists, and utility vehicles for rapid service delivery.
Earlier, Allen Godfrey, Field Coordinator of the Medicines Sans Frontier, MSF said that the organisation is committed to providing health and humanitarian services to the State.
Godfrey, while giving insight into their activities in the state within the last 7 years explained that they had intervened in the Lassa Fever crisis and recorded tremendous success.
“We had achieved significant milestones and learned invaluable lessons in the management of coronavirus and other health-related challenges.
“Within our stay in the state, we have constructed 6 health centers, and other interventions.”
The MSF sought the government’s sustained collaboration in the fight against the scourge.
“We are requesting the government’s sustained budgets in the fight against Lassa Fever, and the deployment of trained nurses in Lassa Fever management to rural areas to sustain the fight”.