Alia Prioritises Health Workers’ Welfare

Benue State governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has declared a state of emergency on workers’ welfare, noting that in a bid to provide a reliable, dependable, and secure healthcare system for the state, his administration has upgraded the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).

Governor Alia added that he is working on the 23 general hospitals in the state, having fixed 384 of over 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the state.

The technical adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity  and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, in a statement yesterday, said Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s healthcare system.

The governor made this known during an advocacy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the Government House, Makurdi.

The delegation, led by NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris and WHO Country Representative Dr. Pavel Ursu, assessed the lassa fever outbreak in Benue State and called for support for healthcare workers.

They commended the efforts of the state government and promised stronger partnerships for better results and outcomes.

Governor Alia, appreciated the team’s efforts and pledged to intensify interventions in the healthcare sector.

He highlighted his administration’s interventions, including enrolling 5,883 internally displaced persons into the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme and constructing new medical and sanitation facilities.

Governor Alia who was represented by the deputy governor, Sam Ode, emphasised that his government places a high premium on healthcare and will not relax until the state becomes a health tourism destination.

He assured that the government was committed to ensuring a robust healthcare system, prioritizing health security, and supporting healthcare workers.

The governor declared a state of emergency in the protection of healthcare workers, expressing deep sadness over the loss of some caregivers.

He emphasised the priority his administration places on staff welfare and promised to scale up commitment, especially in rural areas.

On waste management, the governor said the state has started the process of transforming waste to wealth, with the initial location at Akumba Village, Guma LGA, which will significantly reduce waste when fully operational.

The statement said the delegation had identified waste management as a huge contributor to outbreaks.