The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria though horrendous is seen to have offered ample opportunity to bolster the countries health infrastructure and increase manpower in the health sector that will grapple with the future outbreak of such diseases
This assertion was contained in an address presented by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, at the 40th annual general meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, held at the main auditorium, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, where a minute of silence was observed in memory of health workers who died in the course of their duty during the pandemic.
Governor Okowa listed institutionalized national policy document on responding and managing outbreaks in public health issues and a compelling need to adopt and implement a viable and sustainable healthcare financing programme for all states as the two major lessons he learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic
Governor Okowa, being a staunch advocate for universal health coverage, said Delta State has accredited 405 health facilities comprising 268 primary health care centres, 66 secondary and 65 private healthcare facilities, one federal medical centre, three Abuja and two Lagos healthcare facilities to operate the schemes, with close to 79,000 enrollees.
The Governor announced that his government has agreed to fund 80% of training requirements of the residency-training act of 2017 reached by the NARD and DELSUTH.
He charged them to reciprocate the gesture with commitment to duties.
The two former governors; James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan shared success stories of continuity in the DELSUTH.