Ba‎yelsa Govt Takes Over Care Of Pregnant Women

...Plans Summit On Maternal And Infant Mortality

…Pledges To Deliver Massively On Housing, Others 

The Bayelsa State Executive Council (SEC) says henceforth all pregnant women in the state will be given adequate attention by the government until they safely put to bed. 

This was one of the major decisions reached at the end of the 92nd meeting of the council, presided over by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, who disclosed this after the meeting, said the decision was arrived at following the resolve of the government to reduce drastically cases of maternal and infant mortality in the State.  

Etebu explained that, most of the fatality cases during pregnancy and child birth could have been avoided, if the women were properly catered for and stressed that the government will provide everything they need in the state primary and tertiary health institutions. 

The Health Commissioner also announced plans to organize a one-day stakeholders’ summit on maternal and infant mortality, which will have in attendance the First Lady of the State, ‎Dr. (Mrs.) Rachael Dickson, who will lead discussions at the event. 

He said "The summit will bring together women and youth groups from the ward to the state level, practitioners in the health sector, His Excellency the Governor and the First Lady will all be there. It is going to be a major event and very soon the date and venue will be made known".

Also Speaking the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Funkazi Koroye-Crooks said, more investors will come into the state soon to take advantage of its potentials in different sectors, especially gas.

According to her, this was made possible by Gov. Dickson during his‎ presentation at the 6th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, the capital of Cote D' Voire.

She said, Dickson dazzled his audience, made up of world leaders and CEO's of renowned companies, when he highlighted the reason Bayelsa is haven for any investor and the right destination for doing business.

Koroye-Crooks noted that, the impressed audience applauded the Governor's brilliance and leadership style, just as they made huge commitments to kick start their interest to invest in Bayelsa State.  

On his part the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Julius Otele explained that, the Bayelsa State Government has approved additional funds for the building of about 130 housing units and service quarters in the state with an increase from 6.4 billion naira to 7.2 billion naira.

He revealed that, the government has commenced work at Okaka phase 3, Aleibiri, Ayama, Toru-Orua, Ekeremor, as part of measures to deliver massively on housing to Bayelsans, while the clearing of the new land acquired at Agbura has started, following the payment of compensation.

According to Mr. Otele, Governor Seriake Dickson remains committed to the provision of affordable housing for the people of the state, stressing that, the various low cost housing projects remain on course and would be completed in April.

On his part, the managing Director, Bayelsa Property and Investment Company Limited, Mr. Godwin Konyefa said, the company has the mandate to manage all the assets belonging to the state and to improve on the state’s assets base, stressing that, the housing projects would be strictly handled as investments and delivered in phases and made available to the public for purchase.

While enumerating all the decisions reached at the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said, Bayelsans should appreciate the efforts of the government and show more support, so it can do more for them.

Iworiso-Markson vowed that, the government will fulfill most of the promises made, which will ultimately change the lives of Bayelsans and the state in general, before the expiration of its tenure in 2020.