Obaseki, Ehanire, Kokumo examine destroyed medical stores

The Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, and Police Commissioner Johnson Kokumo on Sunday, October 25, 2020 inspected the government warehouse storing palliatives and medical supplies on Medical Stores Road, Benin City, which was breached by hoodlums.

They were accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Secretary to State Government Osarodion Ogie and other top government functionaries and security chiefs.

Godwin Obaseki who expressed worry over the incident, noted: “I am sad by this development. This is a medical stores warehouse where we keep medical and hospital supplies that feed our whole hospital network system in the state. The people, who use our hospitals, are not the wealthiest in our society but the poorest.

“This is a wicked act on our health care system and I am sure that the amount of destruction here after we may have finished the assessment will surely run into millions of naira. This is a healthcare system that is already weak and we are doing our best to strengthen the system with the help of the Federal Government and other agencies.

“This destruction shows and tells you that this is not the intention of the #EndSARS protesters; there is more to it. We will get to the root of this.”

On his part, Enahire said: “I urge people, who find themselves in the custody of what they can’t eat to return them to be used or destroyed professionally as some of these medications can be very harmful to the body.

“I urge the people and the perpetrators to put an end to these kinds of activities. The damage is worth hundreds of millions of naira. These vaccines are meant to prevent diseases and support treatment in the state and taking it away from the healthcare system is going to have an effect and repercussion. I urge those that carted away these vaccines to return them as they can still be re-used.

“This is a great setback for the state and I am sure the #EndSARS protesters will certainly not be happy with this development. It will be difficult for Edo State because whatever is vandalised will certainly need to be replaced and it will take time and resources knowing that resources are hard to come by,” he added.

Kokumo noted that the Edo State Police Command has arrested about 50 persons involved in the looting and destruction.

“We have made over 50 arrests from this operation alone with medical exhibits. The hoodlums have already made away with the few food palliatives and after which they switched to medical equipment.”

The Police Commissioner said he was yet to confirm if anyone suffered from gunshot injuries, noting that the social media reports of gunshot injuries were totally false.