PMC Medical Director commends Yobe Gov for re-appointing Lawan health commissioner
Mohammed Kaka Misau
The Medical Director of Potiskum Medical Center (PMC), Yobe state, Dr. Ben Egbo has commended Governor Mai Mala Buni of the state for re-appointing a medical Doctor, Mohammed Gana Lawan as Commissioner ministry of health.
Dr. Ben who described Doctor Honourable Mohammed Gana Lawan as his very good friend, noted that his re-appointment did not come to the health sector as a surprise considering the tremendous achievements recorded during his first tenure in the health ministry.
“We are really proud of him for doing very well when he served in that capacity, we are not surprised that he was re-appointed because it’s like a reward for hard-work”, Dr. Ben said in an interview with Baushe Times yesterday.
“It’s because of recognition of his sterling performance in the past four years that made the governor to re-appoint him”, he added.
The Medical Director advised the Commissioner to look at his past achievements which are numerous and consolidate on them.
“A lot of awards have been won, a lot of achievements have been recorded”, Dr. Ben who is also a Radiologists further said.
He recalled that during the first tenures of the HCOH, Yobe state had received award from the NPHCDA Abuja, as the most improved state in Nigeria for routine immunization, as well as emerging the best performing state in the implementation of the Primary Health care under one roof (PHCOUR). Also worthy of note is his well coordinated efforts in the management of the recent outbreak of Diptheria in the state.
While also observing that health demographic of Nigeria has indicated that, Yobe state and indeed the whole of Northeast is still lagging behind in terms of infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and other health care indices, Dr Ben advised the Commissioner to go back to drawing board and do some reenginerring on how to improve on the health indices in Yobe state.
“There is no doubt that Hon. Lawan has made some commensurate improvements but it’s not yet uhuru, he still need to put in more”, he said.
The medical Director said that the second coming of the Commissioner is an opportunity for him to do more by inviting organized private sectors into health care policies in the state.
“We are all here to make the health care industry a better place for Yobe state citizens”, he maintained.
According to him, Governor Buni has made significant impact in the health sector as his predecessor Geidam did during his own tenure.
He said, Mai Mala Buni came and improved on the infrastructure that Ibrahim Geidam put on ground in the state.
“Congratulations to the governor for the giant strides he has achieved in the health sector but at the same time, like Oliver twins we want to request that he should be able to do more for the health sector, we want to see that in the next annual budget of Yobe state, at least 15 to 20 percent of the capital expenditure should be budgeted for health care”, Dr. Ben requested.
While stating that, health is wealth without which no society can progress, the medical Director opined that if the health sector is well funded, a lot of Yobians would not have to travel outside the state for their health care needs.
He advised the people of Yobe to be very vigilant because there are a lot of diseases that are prevalent during the period of rainy season.
Dr. Ben Egbo, the Medical Director of Potiskum Medical Center (PMC) who gave the advice in an interview with our Correspondent yesterday, said that
“Having been in practice in this environment for the past 32 years, the period between July, August and September there’s usally a phenomenal rise in cases of malaria”.
Medical expert advises Yobe residents on clearing bushes, surroundings to lessen malaria burden
The Medical Director pointed out that most of the hospitals are usually flooded with patients during those periods, with corresponding increase in morbidity and mortality.
“July, August, September and October are periods of rainfall, it’s a period of malaria, it’s a period of illness, so i advise Yobians to clear the bushes and their surroundings and above all, try and use insecticide treated mosquito nets to reduce burden of malaria during these periods”, Dr. Ben said.
As a consultant in Radiology, Dr. Ben said that the field of Radiology is relatively new, noting that, it has however become the bedrock of modern medicine.
Mohammed Kaka Misau