The management of Public health has remained a great challenge to all Governments across the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This has remained so because of the dynamic nature of illnesses evolving on regular basis, sometimes with stubborn or even drug resistant pathogens, militating social aspects and economic indices.
The havoc wrecked upon human community by these diseases, most times, are often heightened by certain anti-social behaviours manifesting in the form of substance abuse and perversions in the use of some medically beneficial drugs.
In most places in Nigeria today, the misapplication of these substances have become the order of the day, especially among the youths who have found their momentary thrills as a kind of escape from the abject poverty, unemployment and other social and economic problems staring them on their faces.
Having taken cognizance of this great challenge and the need to secure the future of the State, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, from the inception of his administration, has continued to place the youths at the centre of his policies. Umahi has also continued to evolve proactive dimensions in dealing with the teething problems of citizens’s health.
Apart from the medical angle leading to constructing and equipping of an ultra modern Virology Centre in Abakaliki, the State Capital, for the diagnosis and treatment of Lassa and other haemorrhage fevers, renovating and equipping of the General Hospital across the 13 local Government Areas in the State, regular subventions to both Government and Mission Hospitals in the State, regular payment of medical bills of indigent patients etc, Governor Umahi has also demonstrated great commitment in adopting a socio-economic angle towards taming the monster.
Understanding the correlation between poverty and social deviancy, the Governor has adopted massive empowerment as a veritable tool to nip in the bud, the rising incidences of youth restiveness, substance abuse and other criminal behaviours.
Over 5,000 youths across the State have been empowered with start-up grants ranging from N250,000 and above to pursue businesses of their choices and other innovations. This includes Ebonyian who, hitherto, were risking their lives hawking on the streets of Lagos and other cities across the country. Today, most of them are proud owners of reasonable businesses.
Apart from distributing over 500 tricycles, free of charge to youths across the the 174 political ward in the state, the Governor has equally uplifted many Ebonyi youth operating commercial motorcycles in Onitsha, Anambra State to proud owners of quality commercial tricycles. He has also, recently, empowered about 300 wives of security personnels in the State with N250,000 and above each, after training them on self reliance.
Few weeks ago, Governor Umahi flagged off the distribution of agro-based fund of N4 billion sourced in collaboration with the Bank of Industry for Civil Servants in the State, under which he gave approval for the disbursement of over N1.6 billion to fund 157 businesses on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across the 13 Local Government Areas of the State. In the State, about 200 selected widows are paid monthly stipends of upwards of N20,000.00. The list continues to grow.
Spiritually, the Governor has continued to employ his Moral Instructions and School Evangelism Team to inculcate in the minds of the youths and teenagers the right approach towards securing their future in a world bedeviled by natural and social dangers. As a Deacon and Apostle of the Church, he carries out periodic visitation to hospitals where he makes not only intensive prayers for the sick, but also elevates their emotional and economic states.
Briefing newsmen recently on the outcome of State Executive Council meeting, the State Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezurike, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Sunday Nwangele, revealed another positive dimension by the government towards guaranteeing Public Health Safety in the State.
According to him, the Governor has declared total ban on uncontrolled use of Tramadol, Steroidal Analgestics of all kinds and Codeine containing drugs in the State. A task force has also been put in place to embark on regular checks in pharmacies, chemist shops and other drug outlets, whereby defaulters in the sale or use of the outlawed drugs would be criminally convicted without fear or favour.
Recall that the government had earlier banned the hawking of drugs in public places and gatherings such as motor parks, commuter buses and the likes, especially by people who lack the requisite training to prescribe drug uses.
Worried about the negative toll Hepatitis B is taking, especially among the youths in the State who have been deprived certain national and international rights and privileges owing to their reactive status, the State Government has concluded plans to embark on public screening for the virus with the view of proffering lasting solution to the menace.
There has been no government in Ebonyi State since its creation in 1996 which has treated the issue of environmental safety, hygiene and cleanliness with utmost priority as the Umahi administration.
With his creation of the Ministry of Environment as a full bureaucratic arm of Government, the Governor had ensured that the mountains of garbages that hitherto characterized major streets and road, especially within the State capital were completely eradicated through effective involvement of the private sector. Also, the laws against all forms of environmental pollution and misconduct, including open defecation, unhealthy mining activities, free range animal rearing and others capable of stimulating epidemics have been strengthened.
Moreover, the Governor, with his establishment of a high capacity Poverization Plant at Okposi-Umuoghara in Ezza North Local Government Area of the State, has demonstrated uncommon commitment to stamping out garbage-induced epidemics as well as create more wealth and employment, which are also weapons against public health challenges.
With the present State Government’s aggressive infrastructural revolution, particularly as relates to quality roads and viable drainages, potable water supply, dogged approach to erosion and flood control and his rewarding collaboration with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed management project, the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency, etc, Ebonyi State in the next four and half years would be counted among those that have attained the Sustainable Development Goals in public health.
The Federal and other State Governments should as a matter of priority device further pro-active measures towards diversifying methods and approaches to guaranteeing the general health of its citizens. As it is often and rightly said: “Health is wealth.”
. Agwu writes from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.