The Imo State House Of Assembly Committee On Health Services was on Thursday, 21st of December 2023 inaugurated by its Chairman and Member Representing Ahiazu Mbaise State Constituency, Rt Honourable Chief Sam Nkem Otuibe.
In his inaugural speech, the popular lawmaker, Rt Hon Sam Otuibe, also known as Molar, pledged to use powers of the Committee to ensure the Health sector is taken to the next level, bearing in mind that the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma’s led 3-R administration has already changed the narrative by providing adequate and improved Health Delivery Services across the State, through prudent expenditure of resources and investing hugely in the sector, particularly, the Primary Health Care.
According to the lawmaker, “We are here to work for the people of Imo State and for the 3-R Administration. Imo people will be proud of us by the time we conclude our assignment. I assure you, we will do our best. This Health Committee is very crucial because it has to do with the health of Imo people”.
Other Members of the Committee present include :
- Hon Barrister Dr Ikenna Ihezuo, Committee Vice-Chairman and Member Representing Orlu State Constituency
- Rt Honourable Barrister Chief Dominic Ezerioha, Member Representing Oru-West State Constituency.
- Mrs Chiemene Ibe, Committee Clerk.
In his remark, the Vice-Chairman, Hon Barrister Ikenna Ihezuo expressed happiness to be a Member of the Committee on Health Services, describing it as one of the most important Committees, centering on the health of Imo citizens. In his words, “I am honoured. I am more delighted we are going to serve Imo people, Ministry Of Health, Agencies, Hospitals and Pharmaceutical companies”.
For Rt Honourable Barrister Chief Dominic Ezerioha, he said, “We are going to serve the Committee with all our hearts, so as to bring out the best results. The Governor and the good people of Imo State will be very proud of us, by the time results of our commitment starts coming out”.
BELOW IS THE INAUGURAL SPEECH OF RT HONOURABLE SAM NKEM OTUIBE, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON HEALTH SERVICES, IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
My Honourable Colleagues, I humbly welcome you to this very important occasion of the inauguration of our Committee, Health Services.
You are aware that on the 16th of November 2023, the Speaker of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe, unveiled the 26 Standing Committees and its Chairmen. I was named the Chairman of Committee on Health Services, with you My respected Honourable Colleagues as Members.
As we are all aware, Good Health is the foundation of all life activities. Without guaranteed good health, nothing will function in life.
Without guaranteed good health, we won’t be here to deliberate on how to move the state forward. Without guaranteed good health, our children won’t go to school.
Without guaranteed good health, traders won’t open for business. Without guaranteed good health, civil servants won’t come to work. Without guaranteed good health, life itself will crumble. It therefore means that Health Is Wealth. We must therefore be in good health before we start thinking of any other thing.
For us, as a Committee, we are going to ensure that the Health sector is taken to the next level. Luckily, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma led 3-R Administration has shown sincerity and capacity, by changing the narrative in providing Health Delivery Services across the State, through prudent expenditure of resources and investing hugely in the sector, particularly, the Primary Healthcare.
By taking the sector to the next level, we, as a Committee, will be adding more flesh to the service delivery through effective and efficient oversight on the Ministry of Health, Its Agencies, Hospitals and Pharmaceutical companies, and strictly ensuring that the right things are being done to fully and completely guarantee the good health of Imo citizens and residents in the state.
I repeat, we will be strengthening the delivery of qualitative, effective and efficient health services for Imo citizens by working with the Ministry Of Health, Agencies, Hospitals and Pharmaceutical companies towards improving access to affordable healthcare services, and indeed, universal health coverage.
To achieve this huge task therefore, our Committee will achieve the following aims and objectives ;
- To Effectively oversight the Ministry Of Health, All Health Agencies, All Health Parastatals, Hospitals and Pharmaceutical companies etc, and establish harmonious relationship that would enable our Committee understand the Health challenges in the health sector in the state, And to also ensure smooth and effective healthcare service delivery.
- We will assist the Ministry Of Health achieve optimum Universal Health Coverage for the state, where every citizen can gain access to basic minimum package of healthcare delivery.
- Our Committee will inspect all the Primary Health facilities across the state and ensure they are in good condition. This is aimed at strengthening the capacity and identifying challenges and potholes hindering quality healthcare delivery, with a view to providing workable solutions at the community level.
- To Ensure Staff of all the Health agencies and departments maintain best practices.
- To ensure the free medical care for civil servants in the State Civil Service as approved by His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma is being implemented, as part of the State’s Social Health Insurance Scheme.
- To collaborate with NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to ensure fake drugs are not being circulated in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and chemist shops in the state. And to ensure full weight of the law descends on anyone selling and distributing fake drugs in Imo State.
- The Committee will initiate strategic ideas, as well as encouraging government and private organizations to further invest in the Health sector, which will thereafter bring more revenue into the system, thereby propelling infrastructural development in the state.
- And so on and so forth.
My Honourable Colleagues, we are going to make Imo proud. From the above, we have a lot of work to do. Let us join hands with His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma in providing adequate and improved Health Delivery Services to the good people of Imo State.
This Committee is hereby inaugurated.
Thanks And God Bless
Rt Honourable Chief Sam Nkem Otuibe
Chairman, House Committee On Health Services, Imo State House Of Assembly.
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