The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and US Consul General Will Stevens jointly commissioned the Edo State Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) on Tuesday. The ceremony took place at Palm House, Sapele Road, Benin City. This cutting-edge facility promises to revolutionize real-time emergency and disease management in the state.
Governor Obaseki emphasized that the center will act as a pivotal point for health situational awareness, daily epidemiological intelligence gathering, and risk analysis of public health emergencies, all crucial for decision-making processes.
He stated, “This Center is an initiative that underscores our sustained efforts, as a government, to strengthen our institutions as a whole, but in particular our health institutions for real-time emergency and disease management in our state.”
The governor further elaborated that the center was established to effectively respond to and coordinate public health emergencies. It will also ensure adequate surveillance data on disease conditions, especially those priority diseases being tracked in Edo State, as well as other emerging and reemerging diseases.
He added, “Institutions such as this are critical in managing crises, especially making data readily available to study trends, and prepare for response in terms of emergencies.”
Obaseki also highlighted that the Edo State Emergency Public Health Operation Center was initially set up in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was achieved after several months of diligent work by himself, NCDC, USAID, and was officially opened by the then Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekwuazu.
He said his administration is focusing on manpower development, which is required to sustain the achievements and gains recorded in the health sector. He added that his government has connected over 64 main Primary Healthcare Centers with fiber to bring health closer to Edo people.
The U.S. Consul General, Will Stevens, expressed his appreciation for the health partnership with the Nigerian people that has lasted for nearly 25 years. He said, “It’s the job of a government to take care of its people. This facility is a great symbol of democracy delivered by responding to the needs of the people and making them happier and safer.”
Dr. Samuel Alli, the Commissioner for Health, said in his welcome address that the center will serve as a nerve center, facilitating real-time communication and data sharing amongst health professionals and epidemiologists.
He added, “This facility presently serving Edo State is expected to serve the six states in the South-South geo-political zones until all these states activate their own PHEOC. This success would not have been possible without the support of Governor Godwin Obaseki. This facility will specifically address public health emergency outbreaks, like Lassa fever, and COVID-19, among others.”
