Treat health as priority in provinces, says official

 By MALUM NALU

A SENIOR Health Department official says provincial governments will have to literally treat health as a 24/7 matter of life and death and give it the highest priority.

Health Department executive manager policy and planning, Ken Wai, said provincial governments should place health ahead of other priority areas like education, agriculture, and law and order.

He told provincial administrators and others at the inquiry into the Organic Law on Provincial Government and Local Level Governments yesterday to change their mindsets and place health on top of the list of priorities,

“It’s to do with your own life,” he said.

“You can’t play around with health. If you want to save your life, you want best services.

“Treat health with the respect it deserves. The quality of health must be maintained.

“It should not be compromised because of legislation.”

Wai said it was unfortunate that provincial governments were treating health just like education, agriculture, and law and order.

“Sickness strikes any time,” he said.

“Health is required seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Health, unfortunately, is being treated by provincial governments just like any of the other services.

“I appeal to provincial administrators, on behalf of mothers and children, to treat health separately.

“Don’t treat it like education or agriculture. It’s about life and must be made available all-year round.”

“This is my appeal to law-makers.

“It’s all in your hands.”