…As Orientation Bureau partners DSPHCDA on Human Papillomavirus vaccination awareness
By Onomiguren Agbamu
The Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, Barrister Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the state Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori remained committed to repositioning the health sector for quality service delivery as encapsulated in his MORE agenda.
Latimore made this assertion on Wednesday in Asaba, the state capital, when the functioning Executive Director of Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, DSPHCDA, Dr Paul Yinkore, State World Health Organisation, WHO, and UNited Nation Children’s Funds, UNICEF partners, paid him advocacy visit in his office.
Barr. Oghenesivbe said under Realistic Reforms in the Governor’s MORE agenda, much has been done to improve healthcare delivery to all Deltans, while commending Oborevwori for approving recruitment of additional medical doctors and health workers who hitherto migrated overseas for greener pastures.
He posited that the Tertiary Institutions Students Insurance Program has commenced to provide quality healthcare for students of Delta State origin across the country, saying that State is the first in Nigeria to initiative and implement such gigantic student health scheme.
Oghenesivbe who is also the Executive Assistant on Communications to Governor Oborevwori, told WHO, UNICEF and DSPHCDA officials present at the meeting, that governor Oborevwori’s practical efforts in upgrading hospital facilities prompted the recent approval of over N3 billion for the procurement and installation of new hospital equipment for general hospitals across the three senatorial districts.
He pointed out that the state primary health care development agency is already benefiting from the ongoing state government efforts to strengthen and enhance quality and affordable healthcare services in Delta State, and that Delta will soon become a major hub for medical tourism in Nigeria.
The State Orientation Bureau helmsman assured Dr Yinkore and his team, as well as the WHO and UNICEF partners that the State Orientation Bureau shall do the needful in the area of sensitization campaigns to boost public awareness for the human papillomavirus vaccination exercise; due to commence in the Month of May this year, across the twenty five local government areas.
“The state governor has done reasonably well in his efforts to provide equipment and other facilities to boost services to Deltans in the health sector.
“Over N3 billion was recently approved by governor Oborevwori for the purchase of standard hospital equipment for general hospitals in the state. He directed the recruitment of additional doctors and health workers to fill the vacuum created as a result of doctors migration overseas, while the Tertiary Institutions Students Insurance Programme, TISIP, was flagged off recently at Dennis Osadebey University Anwai, Asaba.
“The implementation of the MORE agenda of governor Oborevwori is in top gear, and the State Primary Health Care Development Agenda is also benefiting from the ongoing healthcare projects in the state.
“Cervical cancer in women requires consistent preventive measures, and the human papillomavirus vaccination for girl child of between 9 and 14 years is one of such noble efforts of government and partner agencies to prevent cervical cancer in the state.
“The vaccination exercise is no doubt, a noble effort of DSPHCDA, WHO and UNICEF to prevent the disease and we must work together to enhance that the exercise is successful across the three senatorial districts of Delta Central, Delta North and Delta South, respectively.
“The State Orientation Bureau;under my watch is willing and ready to assist in the area of sensitization campaigns to create desired awareness for the vaccination exercise in the twenty five local government areas of the state.
“The Bureau shall continue to partner with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including DSPHCDA, to ensure that the laudable vision of governor Oborevwori is fulfilled for the advancement of the state, as encapsulated in his MORE agenda” Oghenesivbe assured.
Earlier, the Functioning Executive Director of DSPHCDA, Dr Yinkore Paul, disclosed that the Agency decided to pay advocacy visit on the Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, Dr (Barr) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe and his management team, to assist them in creating massive public awareness for the human Papillomavirus vaccination exercise expected to commence in May, this year.
He assured Deltans and members of the public that the vaccine is safe, and shall be administered free of charge across the state to any girl child between ages 9 and 14, as well as all indigent citizens, adding that the virus is one of the major causes of cervical cancer in women, which can be prevented through the Papillomavirus vaccination.
Dr Yinkore stated that DSPHCDA is embarking on the exercise with the support of WHO and UNICEF partners, while urging those within the age bracket of nine to fourteen years to avail themselves of the opportunity to safeguard themselves against human papillomavirus, a deadline virus responsible for cervical cancer.
He thanked the head of the State Orientation Bureau, Barrister Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, for the warm reception and kind hospitality accorded the team, and for the new innovations introduced to strengthen and enhance the multifaceted core mandate of DSOB.
The advocacy visit was attended by the joint management staff of Delta State Orientation Bureau and Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, as well as State representatives of the World Health Organisation, WHO, and United Nations Children’s Funds, UNICEF.
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