The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor, has called on all tiers of government and stakeholders in the health sector to make more investment in developing human resources to drive the sector effectively in the country.
He made the call when he received a high-powered delegation from the UNICEF, Nigeria Country Office, led by Dr Edwardo Seladis, Chief of Health, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Ewhrudjakpor suggested that 80 percent of all public sector spending on health should be channeled to human resources development, while only 20percent should be allocated to health infrastructure.
He expressed satisfaction over the commitment being displayed by UNICEF over its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Primary Health Care in the State, noting that Bayelsa is ready to make available its counterpart funding for the implementation of the MoU.
According to him, government was not just excited to partner UNICEF to increase COVID-19 vaccination, but to also improve the overall health care delivery system in the State.
“I am one of the few advocates that believe that all we do in healthcare in Nigeria is too much on infrastructure and less of human resources.
“If we have adequate human resources, we don’t even need structures to deliver healthcare. Human resource for health is so important”, he said.
The Deputy Governor, however, noted that the number of operational boats and vehicles earmarked by the UNICEF to cover the eight Local Government Areas of the State for the health program were grossly inadequate.
Consequently, he called on the development partner to make better logistical arrangement for the smooth implementation of the program in all the Local Government Areas of the State, which are largely aquatic.
He assured the UNICEF team of the State Government’s support towards actualizing its planned engagement of about 500 nurses and midwives for the program implementation.
He also stressed the need to appoint a UNICEF Officer in charge of Bayelsa, and inclusion of Primary Health Extension Workers to meet up the numerical strength of personnel required to effectively execute the program.
On his part, the Chief of Health, UNICEF, Nigeria, Edwardo Seladis, said the team was in the State to discuss with Government over the implementation of the primary healthcare MoU, as well as provide financial and technical support for increased COVID-19 vaccination.
He said the visit is also necessitated by the imperative to set up a special taskforce on immunization and the recruitment of about 500 nurses and midwives to implement the organizations project.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa