AKHA passes Primary Healthcare Devt. Agency bill

BY GLORY CHRIST

The bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has been passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke and twelve other members, was read the third time and passed into law following the adoption of the report of the committee on the whole. 

The committee had earlier considered the report submitted by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Monday Eyo on the primary healthcare development agency bill.

The law seeks to, among others, ensure equal delivery of affordable and quality healthcare services to Akwa Ibom people. 

In his reaction, Speaker Luke thanked members of the House, Chairman and members of the Health committee of the House, as well as stakeholders who turned up for the public hearing which preceded the lawmakers’ consideration of the bill for passage. He applauded their inputs, cooperation and support which he said were central to the smooth passage of the bill.

The Speaker said his motivation for  sponsoring the bill stemmed from the need to support the state government’s efforts towards reviving the primary healthcare system in the state for effective and quality service delivery.

He said: “Today marks a major milestone in the life of this assembly. It is a day that gives me a lot of fulfillment, first, as a lawmaker and second, as the lead sponsor of the primary healthcare development agency bill. This is because the passage of this bill into law today will go a long way in revolutionising Primary Healthcare Delivery Services in our state.”

He added that his motivation to sponsor the bill arose from the need to revive the primary healthcare system in the state to be at par with what is obtainable in other states of the federation.

“We were also propelled by the necessity of getting our State to have a legal framework for primary healthcare delivery. And very importantly, we were dissatisfied with the fact that Akwa Ibom State was among the four states that did not have this law. It was on these premises that I, together with twelve of my colleagues took up the sponsorship of this all important bill. As one of the priority bills that this assembly is committed to passing into law, the passage of this bill today is a demonstration of our commitment to contribute to healthcare delivery in our state through sound legislation as indicated in our legislative agenda. That commitment, like in the last two years, is further made manifest today through the passage of this bill. As part of the commitment to further strengthen healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom, very soon, we will be passing the state health insurance scheme bill.”
The commencement date For the law is May, 30th, 2017.

Also on Tuesday, the house read for the second time the Akwa Ibom State Social Housing Agency Bill sponsored by the assembly’s Speaker and member representing Nsit Ubium state constituency, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke and the Akwa Ibom Structure for Signage and Advertisement Control Agency bill sponsored by Hon David Lawrence of Eket state constituency.

Inaugurating the committee, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke, noted that the matter was already in the public domain, and pointed out the House of Assembly which is saddled with the responsibility of making laws for the good governance and peace of the state, cannot shy away from its role, hence there was need for the legislature to be properly armed with information on the matter raised in order to guide the lawmakers in arriving at a resolution as a state Assembly. 

“Most of the issues you raised are in the front burner of public discourse. We are saddled with the responsibility of making laws for the good governance and peace of Akwa Ibom people. There is need for us to have informed position on the matter before we can pass a resolution as a House.”

Also during Thursday plenary, the House passed into law the fiscal responsibility bill, 2017 sponsored by the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan. It also received a report of the committee on the Health on the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance scheme bill, 2016.

A bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Sports Development Fund and for other matters connected therewith, sponsored by the member representing Onna, Hon. Nse Essien, scaled first reading.