Ebonyi To Construct Five New Hospitals

The Ebonyi State Government has awarded N2.6 billion contract for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of 13 general hospitals, to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

The Acting Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, made this known at the inauguration of the Local Government Task Force on Immunisation and Polio Eradication in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Umahi said that the contracts were awarded to 68 indigenous contractors who would construct five new hospitals, rehabilitate and equip eight existing ones with modern medical equipment.

He said that the state had remained polio free since 2009, adding that its proximity to polio infected states and migration of people into the state called for surveillance.

“I want to call on faith based groups opposed to immunisation to comply with government’s directive,” the acting governor said.

Wife of Governor Martin Elechi, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, also a member of the task force, pledged her continued support to improve the health of children in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sunday Nwangele, said that the state had recorded low immunisation coverage in the first and second quarter of 2012 and called for greater commitment of various stakeholders.

“We need to immunise in order to protect children of less than five years from tuberculosis, tetanus, hepatitis, measles, meningitis, whooping cough and other childhood killer diseases,” he said.

The Chairman, Ezza South Local Government area, Chief Lazarus Ogbee, pledged on behalf of his colleagues to mobilise the people toward effective immunisation coverage in their localities.

Our correspondent reports that the task force members, traditional rulers and other stakeholders were required to strengthen the routine and supplementry immunisation of children below five years.

The task force will also ensure regular funding and monitoring of immunisation activities and make monthly report to the state task force.