South-East Governors Forum Set Up Regional Health Committee

The South-East Governor’s Forum under the chairmanship of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has inaugurated its Consultative Committee on Health as one of the thematic areas of priority for the development of the zone.

Inaugurating the 12-member committee, Naija News learnt that Governor Ifeanyi said that the body would harmonise health-related issues and activities in the zone.  

He also said that the forum would harness and mobilise abundant private resources to complement government’s budgetary allocations towards improving public health.

The governor said the forum was desirous of optimising health service delivery and the overall well-being of the people of the area.

“This committee will serve as a medium for community level mobilisation and information dissemination on guidelines for achieving improved health outcomes and social well-being,” Ugwuanyi said.

Earlier in an address, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Director-General of the forum, described the inauguration of the committee as “a dream come through”.

Ortuanya said the primary focus of the committee was to foster regional integration and economic development within the context of a united Nigeria, adding that the committee would also seek partnership with international donor agencies.

“I am happy to say that we have kept faith with our mandate. We are working assiduously with our strategic partners, including DFID, South-East Knowledge Hubs, the Bureau for Public Service Reforms and others.”

He said that the event was an achievement of one of the thematic objectives of the Forum.

“Against the backdrop of health challenges facing our region, we reached out to eHealth Africa and they accepted to partner with us.” Ortuanya said that the whole essence was to provide interventions in the health sector.

Responding, Dr. Frank Ezugwu, Chairman of the committee, said that the task was daunting, adding that the committee would rely on their God-given wisdom and talents to navigate through whatever challenges ahead. “The task before us is challenging but with our collective resolve, we will surmount them,” he said.

The committee’s chairman said that the region was faced with poor health data, poor health seeking attitude and poor facilities but assured the governors that they would be surmounted with commitment. “We will need your cooperation as we seek to improve the health of our people and God willing, we will not fail,” Ezugwu said.