By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Esezobor Okonoboh, has declared his support to the Federal Ministry of Health’s Nigeria Product Supply Chain Management Programme (NPSCMP), which is aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of drugs and other health commodities to the states.
Mr Okonoboh made this statement during a penetration and advocacy visit by a team from the health Ministry led by Chinwe Okoroanyanwu in his office in Benin City, Edo State.
He advised the state’s Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary of Health to ensure that the Ministry has a well-coordinated Logistics Management Coordination Unit (LMCU) in the state so as to improve and report on supply chain activities, building capacity and provide a budget outline for the programme.
The Speaker noted that there was need for the LMCU to be keyed into the 2017 Health budget and promised to fast-track it’s approval when it gets to the state House of Assembly.
He lauded the NPSCMP programme and also, expressed the need for Edo State Government to show more commitment towards the programme whilst, collaborating with Ministry and Developmental Partners for the betterment of people of the state.
Earlier, in her remarks, the Technical lead of NPSCMP, Chinwe Okoroanyanwu, stated that there was need for LMCU to have its own budget outline, office and staff domiciled for the LMCU project.
She noted that it would assist in monitoring and evaluation of drugs and health products allocation and usage in Edo State, adding that there was need for LMCU to take charge of the supply chain programme in the state for transparency and accountability.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale