The Enugu State Government says its free maternal and child health care has continued to play significant role in safeguarding the lives of her citizens.
This is also as it has commenced moves to give financial incentives to medical doctors that agree to work and reside in rural areas.
Commissioner of Health in the State, Dr Sam Ngwu, who disclosed this to reporters shortly after his meeting with stakeholders in the health sector, held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, said the taxation policy was not in any way inhibiting access to the free health care for pregnant women and children under 5 years.
Ngwu maintained that all the government needed was a way identifying that any intended beneficiary was actually residing in the State.
He emphasized that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had since relaunched the programme, which was started by former Governor Sullivan Chime, stressing that “efforts were also on top gear to improve and upgrade the capacities of district hospitals in the state to make them meet up with the health needs of the people”.
On incentives for doctors, he said it would encourage them to reside and work in rural areas, adding that it would be difficult for doctors who are not residing in rural areas to concentrate in their duties.
He added that the financial incentive, if implemented, would enable rural dwellers to have acess to affordable healthcare.
The commissioner further stated that accessible healthcare system was part of the agenda of the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwu, saying that it was the intention of the governor to ensure that everybody especially the poor has access to healthcare.
He, however, admitted that the inability of doctors to go to the areas of their postings in the rural areas was a big limitation to healthcare delivery in rural areas, assuring that the issue would be addressed soon.
On the activities of partners of the state ministry of health especially Donor Agencies , Ngwu said though some of the agencies were winding up some of their activities, the government would continue to sustain the activities.
The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to improve the health sector, adding that Governor Ugwuanyi,s compassion for accessible healthcare for the poor was unprecedented.
Ngwu averred that the meeting he had with the stakeholders afforded him opportunity to interact with them with a view to knowing their programmes and challenges.
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