Ebonyi Disburses N100m To Six Missionary Hospitals

The Ebonyi  State government has disbursed N100 million to six missionary hospitals located in rural areas of the state.

The  exercise, which was  held at Nnodo Boys Secondary School Abakaliki, brings the total amount given the hospitals since 2008 to N1.1billion in over 11 disbursements.

The benefiting hospitals included Mater Misericodae Hospital, Afikpo which received N17.7 million (with a total receipt of N203 million since 2008); Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu received N16.7 million (N193.25 million); and Mile 4 Hospital, Abakaliki, received N14 million (N168.25 million).

Other receipients were the Sudan Mission Nigerian Reformed Church Hospital which received N17.6 million (N183.38 million); Rural Improvement Mission Hospital, Ikwo, N16.5 million (N172.65 million); and St. Vincent Hospital, Ndubia, N17.5 million (N175.08 million).

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, charged the recipients to utilise the funds judiciously in order to enhance the wellbeing of the people, especially in those rural areas.

“You should realise that you are automatically government partners in the provision of healthcare services to the people, beginning with the rural populace.

“You should also ensure effective free maternal healthcare as part of government’s efforts to reduce maternal/ child morbidity and mortalities, thus positioning the state to attain the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.”

Nwangele urged them to support government intervention programmes to eradicate polio by effectively implementing both routine and supplementary immunisation rounds.

“The government actively engages the private health sector in implementing national health policies such as the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) policy on polio, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scale-up immunisations for polio eradication, among others.

“The state ministry of health shall continue to monitor, supervise and evaluate the performance of this policy and projects, without interfering with the administration of the hospitals.”

Gov. Martin Elechi called on the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously as the government was committed towards enhancing the health sector of the state.

“You should not be bothered when you see government officials in your vicinities, as they are not there to probe or interfere in your activities but to ascertain how the funds are utilised.

“You should uplift your facilities and enhance your overall services to the rural dwellers who are your primary constituencies.”