The Edo State Government has approved free malaria testing and treatment in all government hospitals across the state for two years as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare.
Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Health, Dr Andrew Iyamu, disclosed this during the state government’s monthly briefing.
Iyamu said the policy would allow residents to access malaria care without financial constraints and would be reviewed after two years.
“Any government hospital you go, you don’t pay for malaria testing and treatment. It is free. The arrangement is for two years; after two years, the policy will be reviewed.
“We have renovated a total of 65 Primary Health Care Centres across the 18 local governments, and a total of 35 Secondary Health Centres.
“The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has also recruited about 1,000 health workers. The Eneghede General Hospital, which has been moribund for 19 years, has been renovated. Go to the doctors’ quarters; there is ongoing renovation of the doctors’ quarters.”
Iyamu, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben; and Executive Secretary of the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodity Agency, Princess Kenny Okojie, said the administration was also intensifying efforts against substandard health facilities, quackery and fake drugs.
He further claimed that the late Special Adviser to Governor Okpebholo on Arewa, Alhaji Danjuma Garba, died after receiving treatment from a fake doctor.
Okojie said the government had renovated all its drug warehouses built during the administration of the late General Samuel Ogbemudia, which had become dilapidated.
She added that the state was working with Chinese investors to establish local drug production for use in Edo and supply to neighbouring states and the private sector.
“We have renovated the drug warehouses that were built during the time of General Samuel Ogbemudia.
“The state government is working with Chinese investors to produce drugs in Edo State. We are also to supply drugs to the private sector.”
