The Edo State Health Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) is joining forces with the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) in a strategic collaboration designed to deepen public understanding of health regulations and foster greater compliance throughout Edo State.
Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide, Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, initiated the partnership during a visit to Mr. Sulaiman Aledeh, Managing Director of EBS, at the broadcasting station’s headquarters in Aduwawa.
Dr. Urhoghide emphasized the critical role of public awareness in successful health regulation. “Regulation without adequate public awareness can breed resistance,” she stated. “Compliance improves significantly when healthcare facility owners understand the requirements, citizens are aware of their rights, and patients are informed about expected safety standards.”
She reiterated EDOHERMA’s mandate as the statutory agency responsible for licensing, inspecting, monitoring, and enforcing health standards in public and private healthcare facilities, as well as public spaces with potential health risks.
She clarified that EDOHERMA’s primary goal is to elevate healthcare standards, rather than simply imposing punitive measures. “Safe healthcare is a shared responsibility,” she asserted.
Mr. Aledeh welcomed the proposed partnership as an innovative approach to public health. He noted the importance of reliable information, citing instances where inadequate knowledge has led Nigerians to favor foreign alternative medicines over comparable indigenous options.
He pledged EBS’s full collaboration with EDOHERMA, highlighting the station’s extensive reach, with television signals extending to Akure in Ondo State and radio broadcasts accessible globally via the internet.
Both organizations have agreed to collaborate on several key initiatives, including sustained publicity campaigns to educate the public on compliance requirements, advocacy for patient rights, promotion of responsible health advertising, verification of health-related advertisements, rapid media coordination during emergencies, and joint messaging to combat misinformation and encourage the public to report health hazards.
This partnership marks a significant step towards improving healthcare standards and promoting a culture of health and safety throughout Edo State.