Covid 19: How Enugu State Government is battling the pandemic
In discussing the issues of Health securities in Nigeria, using Covid-19 as a point of reference, we can say boldly that Enugu has not fallen short in ensuring that Health education gets to all nooks and crannies.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has shown to be committed to ensuring the health of his people is taken being care of, the evidence of this claim is apparent during the pandemic. The government started with providing some of the necessary major equipment to the government-owned hospitals thereby, making the health security in Enugu state a major priority. Furthermore, we can say that in being certain that Enugu doesn’t fall short of the demand of WHO (World Health Organization) the state was sure to have fulfilled the requirements for the takeoff of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in addition to payment of the mandatory N100m counterpart fund that will enable the people of the state benefit from health care services under the Universal Health Coverage of WHO, and all this was done under the directive of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. This is not a privilege that every state enjoys but the government of Enugu has so far make sure that their people are secured health-wise says Mr Uchenna Obi a medical Practitioner.
At a time when the virus was at its peak, it was disclosed that the government in position provided the needed logistics for administering the Covid-19 vaccines, such as health personnel, security, and storage facilities, and the Commissioner advised the residents of the state not to fall short in obeying other precautionary measures for the containment of the virus such as the use of face masks, washing of hands with soap and running water at prescribed intervals and observing of social distancing.
When it was time for the vaccination, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi led administration rolled the program in four phases, beginning with administering to health frontline workers, elderly people with underlying illnesses, some key stakeholders in the state, and the general public. The process was going to take a lot of able hands and personnel of the medical field, which was why when it came to both educating young undergraduate doctors and post-graduate residencies, the government pushed for the approval to ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane to absorb 125 internship applicants in different fields of study and 102 Resident Doctors in addition, to continuous recruitment of Consultants in different medical fields, accreditation, and provision of medical equipment to sustain the hospital’s capacity to a high-tech tertiary health institution which will push for the smooth running of the distribution of the vaccines and drugs at large.
Enugu state is known for having one of the best and well-functioning university teaching hospitals. ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, has been able to offer undergraduates a well-equipped and convenient environment to conduct all research and apply all practicals that need to be applied. In applying this the education system of doctors is being taken care of, the system also offers undergraduate clinical and post-graduate Residency training for doctors in addition to the delivery of specialist care to the people. The people’s health issues are being taken care of at a minimal amount of money. Enugu state also has a care unit ‘Enugu State Primary Health Care Development’ which also serves the people and contributed to a large extent in helping curb the spread of the virus.
Some stakeholders believe that Enugu state has a security system around it. The government knew ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, is a gold mine for both the government and the people if invested in, which was why they went all in for the growth of the teaching hospital. Consequently, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ugwu, reassures the people that the agency has the necessary cool-chain equipment to deliver the vaccines to the citizens of the state. All hands have been on deck in the distribution of the vaccines and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi takes on the role of a leader by taking the vaccine to reassure people that it is okay to take the vaccine which is predicted to cut off Covid-19 spread.
The issue of health is said to be on the priority list in Enugu state. They followed the directives of WHO, who pushed for the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a program that enables all people and communities to use the palliative, curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and promotive health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to go through financial breakdown. The implementation of this noble and people-oriented program of the WHO in Enugu State by Governor Ugwuanyi’s government before many states in the country is a further pointer to the fact that the administration of Enugu state places health a top in its priorities.
Conclusively, we can say that when it comes to the issue of health and health securities, Enugu is delivering and when it is narrowed down to Coronavirus of 2019, Enugu state, and its government made a brave move by pushing for the administration of the drugs, preventive measures and vaccines, of Covid-19 showing truly Enugu state is proudly in God’s hands.
Written by Vera Igwilo
