BENIN CITY – Edo state commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Aihanuwa Eregie has again re emphasised that the State Sickle Cell Centre, Benin City was not established to be another hospital; rather the Centre was established for counselling, health education, advocacy and research for Sickle cell anaemia.
The Commissioner made this clarification at the weekend in her office while reacting to the allegations made by the Sickle cell Sufferers who staged another demonstration to the centre, Friday demanding that the Centre be run as hospital with 24 hour services.
Dr Eregie who was disturbed with the repeated demonstration of the Sickle Cell Sufferers emphasised that “the Centre was never established to be a hospital, not registered, equipped or staffed to be a hospital”.
She posited that the Centre will continue to render service to the Sickle Cell patients in accordance with the law establishing it, pointing out that no amount of intimidation will compel the Centre to operate otherwise.
Reacting to the call by the Sickle Cell Sufferers that Commissioner and Permanent Secretary should vacate part of the building they are presently using as offices, she advised that the building belongs to Government and the Centre is under the Ministry of Health, saying the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary vacating the building will not make the Centre run as a hospital.
She however advised them to remain-calm and see reason with the Ministry of Health as well as to avoid being used by some persons for selfish interest, stressing that Edo State Government is very much committed to the health needs of its citizens.