Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue said the State Government had taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to establish a centre for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in the state.
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Ortom disclosed this on Thursday in Makurdi in a speech to mark Democracy Day.
He said that the institute was situated at the College of Health Science, Benue State University, Makurdi.
“The Steering Committee which I put in place for the project has already completed its assignment and will soon submit the report.
“To further address the health challenges our people face, I, on Wednesday signed into law the Benue State Health Insurance scheme.
”The law provides for the establishment of Benue State Health Insurance Agency.
“This is in addition to the 42 primary health centres we have established in various communities, the upgrade of facilities in our general hospitals has also commenced,” he said.
The governor commended the untiring efforts of the State Action Committee on COVID-19 headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr Benson Abounu.
“Today, Benue is among states with the lowest cases of the virus and it has so far not recorded any death,” he said.
He further said that June 12 was significant to most Nigerians.
“This is the day in 1993 that, Presidential Election was held and widely accepted as free, fair and credible. It was a day that Nigerians and the international community described as most important in the political history of post-independent Nigeria.
“Today, Nigeria is celebrating June 12, an event that seemed like an unachievable dream some years ago.
“I am confident that this is the same way the country will some day embrace ranching as the best method of animal husbandry which Benue has been championing since 2017,” he said.