By Asma’u Ahmad
The Enugu State Government has nullified the district health system and adopted the World Health Organisation (WHO) system as part of efforts to reposition its health sector for better healthcare services delivery.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Fintan Ekochin disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu during a health forum organised by the state Ministry of Health.
Ekochin, who chaired the forum, said that the nullification was as a result of the new health bill signed into law by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Dr Fintan Ekochin
He said that the law specified how better the sector should perform so as to meet the health needs of every citizen in the state.
The commissioner explained that the patient’s bill of right was included in the signed law, adding that patients had the right to have knowledge of their treatment, right to be treated with respect and right to be given urgent treatment.
Ekochin explained that the creation of Enugu State Agency for Universal Coverage would be ran comprehensively and with the wisdom of the NHIS challenges so as to succeed in its health activities.
Dr Emeka Ogbuagbo, the Chairman House Committee on Health in the State House of Assembly, said that the state government would work with professional bodies so as to maintain international standard.
According to Ogbuagbo, the law is binding on all health facilities in the state irrespective of profession. He pointed out that the state had the best Medical Emergency Service and called on the citizen to reciprocate the gesture.
Dr Obinna Onoduigbo, a medical consultant with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla commended the governor and the commissioner for health for upgrading health in the state.
The consultant also thanked the government for extending its gesture to the UNTH.
