Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, has launcheda N1 billioncomprehensive health programme for the state.

Umahi announced this during a meeting he held with major health stakeholders in the state, and development partnersatthe Government House in Abakalikion Wednesday.

He said: “Withgratitude to Almighty God and appreciation of your commitments and partnership and support, I wish to flag off a comprehensive health programmeof Ebonyi State with the sum of NI billion. This money has been set aside and transferred to the account ofthe Ministry of Health.”

The governor added that his administration had already set aside over N500 million for its Save One Million Lives in the state.

“Let me remind you that we have about$1.5 millionfor Save One Million Lives. It is already there in the account which in my calculation is about N500 million plus. So, we have a total of N1.5 billion in the account,” he said in a statementon Fridayby his Chief Press Secretary.

Umahi pointed out that under the programme, 285 primary health centres in the state would be properly equippedto meetinternational standard, especially in laboratories and storage facilities.

He said: “What we want is to start a programme, like it is done outside this country. We have 13 general hospitals and since we came on board, we have been working on them. Regrettably, when you go to these general hospitals, like my caretaker chairmen have been going, you willdiscover that they can make you feel sick. In fact, ifyou are healthy and you go there you willautomatically become sick and so it is something of regret; it is not acceptable to us.

“We emphasise the need for laboratory. We want to look at our staffing, we want to look at equipment, we want to look at drugs, and we want to look at theirmaintenance. These arewhat we also want to do with our six mission hospitals. We believe that the most important thing for us as a governmentis the health of our people. Itdoesn’t matter what means to deliver good health facilities toour people.”

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, while presenting a reportentitled, “EbonyiState Strategic Framework for Health Sector: A Holistic Approach,” assured thestakeholders that theMinistrywas ready to achieve a sustainable health system in the state.

Umezurike said thehealth programmewas mainly on how to improve health delivery system to the people and that it looksat four building blocks - physical infrastructure, human resource for health, hospital equipment and operational fund.

A representative of UNICEF Dr. Agatha Nzeribe, said the organisation has spent N64 millionon health and nutritional programme in the area and appreciated the state government for addressing issues raised during UNICEF advocacy visit of the organisation.

•Photo showsGovernor Umahi.