The Edo State government has completed plans to reopen the Stella Obasanjo Isolation Centre in Benin City and prepare it for the treatment of Diphtheria cases in the coming days.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole on a visit to the hospital said the State Government remains committed to protecting the health of citizens and is working closely with health facilities to contain the spread of the disease.
The government has also handed over a consignment of medical supplies to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as part of efforts to stop the spread of Diphtheria in the State.
Dr Oshiomhole said the move is to facilitate the reopening of the Isolation Centre at UBTH, which had been shut for some time, to allow proper treatment and isolation of affected patients.
Dr Oshiomhole who said that the State Government will take full responsibility for the hospital bills of all Diphtheria patients currently receiving treatment at the hospital explained that the intervention was necessary to reduce the risk of further infections.
The supplies delivered to UBTH include drugs, hospital beds, protective scrubs, face masks, disinfectants, gloves and other essential items.
Appreciating the government’s gesture, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UBTH, Dr. Stanley Okugbo, said the timely and helpful donations would ease the burden on families of infected persons and help the hospital respond quickly to the outbreak.
