NDDC Laments Dearth of Health Facilities in Fight against Pandemic

The acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, has lamented that the poor state of health facilities in the country, especially in the Niger Delta region, was a major constraint in the fight against COVID-19.

This is as the NDDC kicked-off the distribution of medical supplies, relief materials and public enlightenment campaign to contain the spread of Coronavirus across the region.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the NDDC Warehouse, Port Harcourt yesterday, Pondei said the pandemic had also taken its toll on businesses and the economy because of restrictions.

He said: “No doubt, the disease has also taken its toll on the socio-economic well-being of citizens, especially as most small and medium scale businesses have been affected with the lockdown imposed in the states.”

Pondei noted that the economic well-being of the people of the region was further dwindled due to the series of lockdowns being imposed by both the federal and state governments as a precautionary measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the commission was always desirous to support the government and people of the states in the Niger Delta region in the area of quality healthcare delivery, adding: “The Commission looks forward to strengthening relationship with the states in the region in the area of health care for the good and well-being of the residents.

“The good relationship between the governments of states in the region offers opportunity for synergy in efforts geared towards providing lasting solution to the socio-economic challenges of the people in the region.”

Pondei said that the NDDC needed to complement the efforts of the nine states covered by its mandate in response to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, stating: “All the nine NDDC states were supported with funds.