Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has saluted the swift response of President Muhammadu Buhari to the request of the state government for the establishment of a Federal Medical University.
He said when established, the University would be the first in the South-South geopolitical zone and improve the health fortunes of the state and region.
Governor Diri stated this while receiving the Minister of State for Health, Mr. Joseph Ekumankama, who was in Yenagoa to inspect facilities at Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) and inaugurate some projects at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
Speaking through his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor said the infrastructure and other requirements available at the BMU were sufficient to kick-start the Federal Medical University, noting that as a state that lays the golden egg, Bayelsa deserves many Federal institutions to give the people a sense of belonging.
He also appealed to the federal government to establish a National Eye and Ear Hospital or an Orthopedic Centre to save the people of the state the cost and stress of seeking medical attention in those areas.
Governor Diri assured the Federal Ministry of Health and FMC, Yenagoa of his administration’s continued collaboration to care for the health needs of the people and promised that the state executive council will consider approving the requests for land to expand the proposed site of the Federal Medical University among other demands soon.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive also commended the Minister of State for Health for his achievements within six months.
Earlier, Minister of State for Health. Mr. Joseph Ekumankama had said the inspection of facilities at Bayelsa Medical University was part of steps required for the establishment of the proposed Federal Medical University.
He assured that the Ministry will work closely with Government including necessary recommendation to help the state realize its dream of hosting the Federal Medical University in the South-South zone.
Mr.Ekumankama expressed delight at the level of collaboration between the state government and Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, and called for a sustenance of the existing cordial relationship.
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and Wife of the Governor, Dr. Gloria Diri, joined the Minister to inaugurate about twenty projects at the FMC embarked on under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Dennis Allagoa.
The projects include the Hospital Entrance Road, a redesigned Accident and Emergency Complex, Health Information Management Complex, and Senator Diri Modular Theatre.
