COVID-19: Sen. Arise calls for huge investment in health sector

Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District in the 6^th Assembly, made the call in a virtual interaction with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

He said the outbreak of the global pandemic had taught Nigeria a lesson that the health sector was in dire need of government’s attention.

Arise said that a substantial part of the resources realised so far through COVID-19 Support Fund should be used in revamping the existing hospitals and building of new ones.

He also urged the Federal Government to set in motion ways for the post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery.

“We have now realised that our health sector needs serious overhaul. Some of the funds gathered under the COVID-19 donations, should be put into rehabilitating the hospitals and building new ones.

“We must ensure we adequately equip our health facilities to provide first class health treatment throughout the country.

“There should be a minimum of one state-of-the-art hospital per state in addition to whatever exists in the states at the moment,” he said.

Arise said reconstruction was panacea to economic recovery. Jobs will be created in the construction industry and the health supply industry.

He added that there would be economies of scale as a result of the focus on the health sector.

Arise said that to achieve this, the power sector must work and the water supply should move from boreholes to pipe borne water.

“We must also pay attention to provision of public utilities such as public toilets, compulsory running water in all restaurants and fast food places as well as functioning public toilets in all petrol stations with running water.

“All government offices by compulsion must have functional toilets. This is the minimum, to provide the practice of public hygiene which would reduce ailment in our society,” he said. (NAN)
JIG/KTO/AJA
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Adeleye Ajayi