May 12, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Thursday, urged all tiers of government and other critical stakeholders of the health industry in the country, to make more investments in developing human resources to effectively drive the sector.
The Deputy Governor made the call when he received a high-powered delegation from the UNICEF Nigeria country office, led by its Chief of Health, Dr Edwardo Celadis, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him as suggesting that 80 percent of all public sector spending on health should be channeled to human resources development, while only 20 percent should be allocated to health infrastructure.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed excitement at the commitment being displayed by UNICEF over its memorandum of understanding (MoU) on primary healthcare with the State Government, said Bayelsa was ready to make available its counterpart funds for the implementation of the MoU.
He noted that government was not just excited to partner with UNICEF to increase COVID-19 vaccination, but to improve the overall health care delivery system in Bayelsa.
The Deputy Governor, however, pointed out 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 programme were grossly inadequate.
Consequently, he called on the development partner to make better logistical arrangements for seamless implementation of programmes in all the LGAs of the state which are largely aquatic.
The Bayelsa number two citizen assured the UNICEF team of the state government’s support towards actualising its planned engagement of about 500 nurses and midwives for its programme implementation.
He also stressed the need to appoint a UNICEF field officer in charge of Bayelsa and the inclusion of primary health extension workers to meet up the numerical strength of health personnel required to effectively execute the programme.
Earlier in his presentation, the Chief of Health, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Edwardo Celadis, said the team was in the state to discuss with government for the implementation of the Primary Healthcare MOU as well as provide financial and technical support for increased COVID-19 vaccination.
He said the visit had also been necessitated by the imperative to set up a special taskforce on immunisation and the recruitment of about 500 nurses and midwives to implement the organisation’s project.
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