From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has reiterated its commitment to continue to invest heavily in health facilities across the state in order for Bayelsans to have access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri handed down this on Friday during the Inauguration and Handing-Over Ceremony of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Plants at Sagbama General Hospital in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Plants was constructed by the Bayelsa State Government in partnership with Global Fund.
Diri represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Nimibofa Ayawe said, one of his top most priority is the wellbeing of the citizens of the state and by so doing investing in the future of the people.
According to him, “a lot of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers died as a result of lack of oxygen. With this development, it implies that there will be oxygen available at any given point in time in the hospitals and this is a wonderful thing for our people”.
He commended the commissioner of Health for being resilient and dedicated and the pioneer in pressuring the Federal Ministry of Health and the partners in providing PSA Plant for the people. Saying out of 63 approved, Bayelsa got 3 which is no mean feat. ” We thank all the partners for doing this for our people and we are going to make best use of it”.
He described the event as historic adding that lives will be safe in this part of the state.
According to him, government alone at the level of the state will not be able to shoulder all the responsibility of the resources needed to do most of the thing in health sector. “The partnership we have experienced today is a welcome development. Global Fund and all other partners in the health sector that have been doing so much for us, we thank all of you”.
“We want to assure you that we are going to make best use of this facility. In the past six years a lot have been done in the health sector driving people oriented program within the health sector like immunization, facilities, but our resources are actually limited. But I can assure you, it is deliberate thing we are doing in the health sector in Bayelsa state. It is a work in progress and we will continue to work in that direction”.
In his welcome address, the chief host who is also the commissioner of Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe said, the commissioning of the Pressure Swing Adsorption plant is to supply medical oxygen to the hospitals.
Brisibe appreciate the effort of the governor and his deputy for his committed and transformative support to delivery a robust healthcare assistance and services in Bayelsa State.
He also appreciated the leadership of the state for standing by the Ministry. ” What this ministry needs at this point in time is to ensure the life expectancy of Bayelsans and all indigenes increase and the quality of healthy life experience by all Bayelsans.
“The achievement today is a direct proof of the visionary leadership of governor Douye Diri led administration and we in the Ministry of Health, we are greatful for that and we also thank the Secretary to the state government for his support to the Ministry of Health”.
Prof. Brisibe also appreciate the Federal Ministry of Health for getting the project to a finishing point, saying the project started immediately after the COVID-19 and after my assumption as commissioner of Health, started disturbing him and today the story is different.
“Let me also thank the Global Fund for taking this project as a pet project not just only in Nigeria but worldwide. Global Fund support and donate equipment for PSA. We are grateful to Federal Ministry of Health, Global Fund and all other partners for making Bayelsa a priority state”.
In his opening remark, the permanent secretary ministry of health, Dr. Ebiye Sawyer said, the ceremony was significant because so many lives have lost as a result of lack of oxygen.
According to him, mothers in labour, children struggling to breathe, fathers who never returned home, simply because oxygen was not available at the right time.
He described it as the first state own oxygen plant in Bayelsa state.
In his goodwill message, Dr. John Paul Ororo the Federal Ministry of Health South South in charge of oxygen Desk, the essence of the plant is to ensure that oxygen are available and affordable. Saying out of 63 plants donated, Bayelsa have 3.
“The purity of plant is about 93 percent which means it’s clear and safe.’
Dr. John Paul advised government on constant power supply to the facility thereby encouraging them to connect it to national grid for power.
