DTSG Ready To Tackle Impact Of Public Health Disease

By Marian Kogolo

Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme has called for collective efforts from stakeholders within and outside the country to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by Covid 19 and other diseases of public health concern in order to prevent possible epidemics.

The commissioner made the remarks today while declaring open the inaugural meeting of the Delta State COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project, CPREP, steering committee meeting at the conference hall of the ministry of health, Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba.

Dr. Onojaeme, represented by the Permanent Secretary, ministry of health, Dr. Philomena Okeowo, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic created a disruption to social systems and had far-reaching effects on public health, hence it had become imperative to “collaborate to prevent, control and slow down potential medical threats before they become an epidemic.”

He said the Delta State Government would ensure that it established a health system that would anticipate these diseases and respond in a timely manner.

Responding, the Delta State Program Coordinator, COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project steering committee, CoPREP, Dr. Mildred Okowa said that the State was ready to tackle the negative impact of COVID-19 and other public health diseases.

She stated that the project was a world bank financed project aimed at curtailing impacts of COVID-19 amongst other gender-based violence, hinted that her team had between now and March to round up the first phase of the project with thirty-one agenda to execute.

She also noted that the project was a nationwide programme, noting that Delta State received its first tranche of fund disbursement early this month due to implementation delays, assuring of her team’s readiness to execute the project in line with global best practice cum specifications of the project sponsor.

Some of the Committee members that attended the committee inaugural meeting included the Permanent Secretary, ministry of information, Mr. Lucky Omokri, represented by the Director, Government Printer, Mr. Harold Ojji; Permanent Secretary, ministry of women affairs and social development, Mrs. Kevwe Agas; State M&E officer for CoPREP, Mrs. Nneka Chuka-Imarhia, amongst others.