Uzodimma Commends NCDC over Emergency Operation Centre at Imo Specialist Hospital
By EMEKA OBIAGU
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Monday recorded another feat in the State’s health sector, inspecting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at Umuguma area of Owerri.
The Governor was instrumental to the decision of the NCDC to site the EOC at the Imo Specialist Hospital as a way of enhancing awareness in the state as regards COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases with a view to tackling them.
Commending NCDC over the project, Governor Uzodimma said he will not joke with any effort made directly or indirectly to enhance the well being of Imo people through the establishment of health facilities to deal with already known and unknown diseases.
He reiterated that COVID-19 pandemic has not only challenged the entire world but has opened the eyes of government to partnerships in the area of health that can help guarantee the good health of the citizenry if properly put to use.
He applauded the NCDC team for finding Imo State worthy of the EOC and pleaded with the team to ensure that those they have come to train at the Centre will be in a position to train others when they have left.
Governor Uzodimma promised to ensure that the facility is put to good use, including seeking ways to ensure that it is self-sustaining. “As a facility to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and other health related issues, we will work to ensure that the place is not only put to good use, but will be self-sustaining,” the Governor said, adding that the awareness which the facility will create in the state and beyond cannot be overemphasized.
Explaining earlier to the Governor on the reason for the EOC, leader of the NCDC team, Dr. Everestus Aniaku said Emergency Managemnt Response, Networking and Awareness creation go a long way in helping to solve health challenges.
Dr. Aniaku said the Centre will serve not only the health ministry, but also other ministries and agencies of government to achieve a common goal.
He said the Information Ministry has a great role to play in enlightening the public on their state of health. Dr. Aniaku further explained that the beauty of the EOC is that information could be shared with the NCDC head office on COVID-19 and other-related problems.
Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, Chief of Staff to Government House, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Chairman of Imo State COVID-19 Taskforce, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Damaris Osunkwo, and other political appointees were in attendance during the inspection.
