By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Delta State Deputy Governor, Dcn. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has maintained that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration was committed to adhere to the Federal Government’s guidelines and International best practices in the fight against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Otuaro stated this when he inaugurated Members of the Delta State Project Steering Coordinating Committee of the Nigeria COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (Co-PREP), in Asaba.
While praying for a quick end of Covid-19, Otuaro noted that the heartbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the early part of the year 2020 was an ill wind that blew the world economics away and it did no good to the world.
“The State responded accordingly as directed by the Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC). But Covid-19 has variant symptoms.
“This is World Bank assisted project that is meant to be implemented by States in the country”. He added.
According to Otuaro, the Steering Committee with the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye as Chairman will also review progress reports and oversee the State Coordinating Unit (SCU) to ensure timely implementation of the project.
Other members of the Committee are Comm. for Finace, Sir Fidelis Tilije, Comm. For Economic Planning, Barry Gbe, Comm. For Information, Charles Aniangwu, Comm. For Water Resources, Evelyn Oboro.
The members also included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ejiro Ogheneaga, Permanent Secretary, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA), Dr. Jude Winful-Orieke, the Managing Director OPTIDEL Nigeria, Prof. Ehimario Igumbor and EOC Incident Manager, R. O. C. Ikwuogu.
SPADE NG NEWS (Online platform) reliably gathered that the committee will oversee the implementation of Co-PREP projects at the State level, and review and approve the State’s Incident Action Plan (IAP) for onward transmission to the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU).
Responding on behalf of the Committee, Dr. Mordi said “We accept the membership as a honour done us to participate and put in check the pandemic. We promised to discharged our duties diligently to ensure Delta State get credit on efficiently utilized funds.
Sources also informed SPADE NG NEWS that the World Bank has approved the sum of $114.28m financing, to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19, with specific focus on State level responses.