Edo govt initiates free malaria testing, treatment - The Guardian Nigeria News
The Edo State Government has made malaria testing and treatment free in all government hospitals across the state as part of measures to improve access to healthcare. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Andrew Iyamu, disclosed this yesterday in Benin City during the state government’s monthly briefing. Iyamu, flanked by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben; and the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodity Agency, Princess Kenny Okojie, said the governor approved the policy to ensure that residents could access malaria treatment without financial constraints.
He said the administration had also renovated 65 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the 18 local government areas and 35 Secondary Health Centres, while efforts are being made to improve healthcare delivery and tackle substandard health facilities, quackery, and fake drugs.
In another development, the return of the Edo Museum of West Arts (EMOWA) and the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre by the Edo State Government to the Oba of Benin has been described as two strong policy decisions taken by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben, stated this yesterday at the State Ministry of Information and Strategy’s monthly press briefing in Benin City. He explained that, contrary to claims that the European Union invested in MOWAA, the EU only gave a grant in support of the project, adding that the Edo State Government, apart from providing the land, invested N3.8 billion in MOWAA, which will now revert to its original name, EMOWA. Okaeben described Okpebholo’s coming as a blessing to Edo people, pointing out that the state’s traditional and cultural values are gone, arising from cultism and kidnapping before the governor came to sanitise the land. The Commissioner announced that the Edo Carnival, meant to enhance the unity of Edo people, would be held in December, adding that his ministry is grading hotels in the state to enhance tourism.
