UNICEF LEADS SUPPORT PARTNERS TO REFURBISH ENUGU STATE CENTRAL MEDICAL STORE

REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO

The upgrading of the Enugu State Central Medical Store, which serves as the state’s medical warehouse to international standard has commenced.

The project is supported by Global Fund, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) handling its technical coordination and construction.

Representative of the Governor of Enugu State and State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, handed over the warehouse to the UNICEF reprentative, Dr. Olusoji Akinyele, for it to be refurbished by the firm handling the project.

The project is expected to be completed in four months.

Highlighting the importance of the warehouse to the state and country at large, Dr Obi noted that Enugu is one of the 22 states that benefitted from the grant aimed at improving medical facilities used for supply chain and management of pharmaceuticals and medicals in the country.

He thanked UNICEF for its supports to the state and Federal governments in critical areas, which include healthcare delivery.

Dr. Obi noted that UNICEF’s timely supports have saved millions of lives in the country and improved the standard of living of the people.

In his address, the UNICEF Representative, Dr. Olusoji Akinyele, explained that the warehouse when fully renovated and equipped would strengthen the state’s health system.

He expressed the hope that the refurbished and equipped warehouse would be inaugurated on December 31, 2023.

According to the UNICEF reprentative, the project which Enugu is among the 22 benefitting states, is a multi partner venture, with the Global Fund providing the resources for the project, while UNICEF is overseeing its technical coordination and construction.

Dr. Akinyele stated that the project come at a time the state welcomed a new administration in the person of Governor Peter Mbah, whom he noted had shown his intention to turn the state around for good.

Dr. Akinyele further explained that Anambra, Enugu and Imo States in UNICEF Enugu Field Office benefitted from the upgrading of the warehouse.

He said that the principal recipient for the grant is National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) while collaborating government partners include the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme (NPSCMP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics (DHPRS).

The UNICEF reprentative explained that the bidding process was done and vendors selected, memorandum of understanding signed with the States, including Enugu State, hence the commencement of work at the Enugu State Central Medical Store, which serves as the state’s medical warehouse.

The event was well attended by Federal and State Government officials, UNICEF specialists and staff, members of the diplomatic corps, health experts, oversea development partners and well Nigerians from different walks of life, who expressed joy and appreciation to UNICEF and Global Fund for the initiative.

They noted that the project would hugely improve healthcare delivery in Enugu State and country at large.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU

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