The Governor of Delta State, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has
consented to the establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research’s
(NIMR) South South Out-Station in Asaba saying that supporting medical
research was a sure way of improving the health of Nigerians.
Speaking on Thursday [18-03-16], when he received the
Director-General, Prof. Innocent Ujah, Mni, and management team of the Nigeria
Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos in his office, Governor Okowa urged
big companies, members of the organised private sector and individuals to
support medical research in the country so as to improve the health of the
common man.
Dr. Okowa who promised to fast track the establishment
of the outstation in Asaba, said that the outstation would bring research
closer to the people and lead to closer collaboration and partnership with
Medical School of the State University Teaching Hospital and other health
institutions as well as provide employment for Deltans.
“For us in Delta state it is a privilege for us to
have an NIMR outstation and it is something that we must take seriously, we are
going to put the processes in place in order for us to have the office in the
state, there is a lot to be gained by the fact that NIMR is bringing a research
facility closer to us and the fact that we also have medical institutions, it
is necessary that having this outstation will create room for collaboration for
research between our medical institutions and NIMR and this collaboration and
partnership is definitely needed”, He said.
“I hope that Nigerians will realise the importance of
supporting NIMR especially for our top companies who have opportunities to
assist because it is one of the easiest ways of assisting the poor; whatever
money is put into the research institute you are actually in one manner or the
other beginning to assist the poor as the larger number of Nigerians are
resident here and the more we are able to improve on our research and policy
direction the more we are able to impact on their health status. I think that
Nigerians should take partnering with the institute very seriously’’, he added.
While commending NIMR for their research efforts in the
country, Senator Okowa called on Nigerians to cooperate with the institute in
its researches into communicable and non-communicable diseases opining that the
researches enriches ‘’policy decisions, directions and provides new approaches
to achieving the goals of the health sector”.
Earlier, Prof. Ujah said they were in Asaba to explore
the possibility of establishing the Institute’s South-South Out-station and
solicit for the support of the state government to achieve this explaining that
the institute already has outstations in other zones.
“Some of the benefits derivable form the establishment of the
outstation include increased tempo of health research and capacity development
which will lead to evidence based quality health care for the people of the
South South Zone; employment generation and wealth creation Deltans;
collaboration with the State University Medical School in areas of health
research and capacity development and attraction of donor funding and support
as well as international partnership for development expected to enhance the
achievement of Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]”, he said.
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