The Minister Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to providing healthcare services to ameliorate the challenges faced by the Niger Delta people in accessing facilities in their communities.
The minister who was represented by Deputy Director, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ndukwe Ukpai, made the pledge at the inauguration and handing over of block of health centre at Edem Idim Ishiet in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
He mentioned that rural residents often encounter barriers to healthcare that limit their ability to obtain the care they need, noting that for rural residents to have sufficient access, necessary and appropriate health services must be available and obtainable in a timely manner.
“In pursuance of its statutory mandate, the ministry commenced the construction of ‘Quick Win Intervention projects in 2017 as a palliative approach with the goal of improving the life of the people of the Niger Delta region. The construction of health centre in this region is geared towards making care easily accessible to the communities, especially the rural areas,” the minister said.
He lauded the thorough and timely execution of the project barely four months after it was awarded in 2020, noting it is the desire of the government that preference would be for the people living in the rural areas and the vulnerable population.
Others are women and children under the age of five years, as well as the elderly, irrespective of their locations in the country.
Senator Akpabio therefore tasked the host communities to be dedicated in the protection and maintenance of the facilities provided by the government.
The facility consists of consulting rooms, male and female wards, pharmacy and dispensing unit, laboratory treatment and injection rooms, matrons’ office, nurses’ station and store.
In a related development, the minister also inaugurated and handed over completed health centres, classrooms block, ICT centre in Oron community, Oron Local Government Area, Primary Health Centre, Oti-Oro in Okobo Local Government Area, construction of maternity ward and nurses office, Inua Eyet village, Ibeno Local Government Area, renovation of 12 rooms Primary Healthcare Centre and apartment, Etebi Mbakuyo, Esit Eket Local Government Area, renovated African Church Secondary School, Oku Iboko, Itu Local GovernmentArea and a block of ICT centre at Mbak Obio, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State respectively.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babayo Ardo, represented by Senior Officer, HUD, Osuzoka Nkiru, stated that in spite of the many challenges encountered in the course of realising the project, it was gratifying to note that the ministry had enjoyed the commitment, cooperation and assistance of the youth, elders and traditional authorities of the host Edem Idim Ishiet community.
In his response, the traditional ruler of the community, Eteidung Ezekiel, commended the Federal Government for its gesture to station the facility in the community, noting that the healthcare system in their communities, local government and state would be proactive and better ready to tackle the challenges of the people.
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