Christopher Isiguzo
1 January 2009
Abakaliki — In what appeared like a new year gift, government of Ebonyi State, yesterday disbursed N100million to six mission hospitals in the state.
The gesture, which was geared towards improving qualitative healthcare services to the people, especially those in the rural areas, brought the total grant released to mission hospitals in the state this year to N300 million.
Speaking during the presentation, Governor Martin Elechi said the gesture was part of his administration's commitment to taking healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of the people of the state, especially rural dwellers.
Represented by Commissioner for Health and Environment, Dr Sunday Nwangele, Elechi said the concept was based on the fact that 80 per cent of the people in the state live in rural areas where the mission hospitals operate, adding that most of the public hospitals are located in urban areas, and for the state government to meet with the Millennium Development Goals, it must reach out to those in rural areas.
"Most adequate public health facilities are congregated around urban centres, while more private and humanitarian health facilities are located in the hinterlands, rendering effective people-oriented health service," he said
The break down of disbursement shows that Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu, got N10.25million, Rural Improvement Mission Hospital, Ikwo, N20.25million, Sudan United Rural Health Service, N16million, St Patrick Mile Four Hospital, N17.25million, St. Vincent Hospital, Izzi, N14million and Mater Hospital, Afikpo, 16.25million.
Elechi said the first and second phases were designed to address basic challenges facing private health practitioners, while the third phase will pay attention to encouragement of infrastructural developments, renovations and face-lift of the institutions.
In another development, the state government has flagged-off free maternal health, to promote qualitative healthcare for women, especially during child birth.
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