By Kadiri Christopher
The Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Sen Monday Okpebholo has set up machinery to regulate and monitor services and environment of the health, hospitality and other consumer delivery.
Addressing newsmen recently at the office of the Edo Health Regulatory and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA), the Chief Executive Officer and Permanent Secretary, Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide said the Governor of Edo State, Sen Monday Okpebholo deemed it fit to regulate and monitor the activities of the health services alongside hospitality and other related sector.
According to Dr Urhoghide, "EDOHERMA is the only statutory agency for the regulation of the health sector. The agency is not being punitive nor witch-hunting, but supportive to all health facilities in Edo State.
"We are new onboard and it is a gradual process. We have had stakeholders engagement with health facilities owners and with all the various health professional associations. We are already collaborating.
"We recently carried out a project in Edo and it was tagged PROJECT SAFE CARE and it targeted at monitoring each of the various types of healthcare facilities. Specialists came and joined us on that day to recommend and upgrade the guidelines that we have been working with.
"We also have the PROJECT CLEAR where we had a one-on-one with them and troubleshooting with health professionals.
"What we are doing at the moment is publicity and stakeholders engagement. We are also looking at health compliance of schools and food handlers. That's why we have been carrying out public education and enlightenment.
"We are regulating health facilities especially in areas of staffing, they must be licenced with the regulatory councils each professional belongs to and they must also pay their annual practicing license fees to their councils. Only licensed health professionals can operate in health facilities.
"We are also going to be monitoring the health facilities infrastructure. Health facilities have specifications on the types of health facilities they want to establish. We shall be working with our structural engineers in order to ensure infrastructure is complied with. For example, you have a diagnostic centre and you are running scan, your facility must have a particular dimension to carry out the scan because we don't want radiation. Same with dental clinics and it cut across the entire health sector. Ventilation, water and electricity supply are very important when it comes to infrastructure.
"The equipment must be functional, well calibrated and must meet standard.
"We shall also monitor Infection Prevention Control (IPC). We have done our assessment on IPC, about 60 percent of our health facilities do not comply with IPC. One hand gloves shouldn't be used for more than one patient. Used hand gloves must be properly disposed of. We shall be working with the Edo State Waste Management Agency. The health facility must be registered with the Edo State Waste Management Agency.
"We shall monitor the preparedness for emergency cases. Some health facilities have it in their signposts that they have emergency services but when there is an emergency, they can't respond because they actually do not have the emergency equipment like oxygen and ambulances.
"The environment must be checked. We will monitor if you carry out fumigation on your environment and that's where we will be working with Ministry of Environment to ensure safe environment.
"Every worker has to be healthy before delivering healthy service. This is a call for action. We shall monitor the health checks for staff of facility owners. Staff must comply with safety precautions of their work places. Helmet, safety boots and other safety items must be used in companies that are into safety. It's very necessary.
"We are also calling on workers to report health hazards to the Edo HERMAN and you will be kept in confidence as we shall be dealing with such reported issues. Edo HERMA is here to help.
"We are not only going to focus on the urban areas. We shall also be reaching rural areas with the entire Edo State", she said.
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