The Director-General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, has been honoured as a fellow of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun – Centre for Sustainable Development (FUPRE-CSD).
He was awarded the title of Fellow of FUPRE-CSD on Monday 22nd April 2024, during the 3rd Roundtable on Sustainable Development, held at the University campus.
Speaking on the effects of climate change, Olorogun Akpoveta, who was also one of the panelists, called on Deltans to avoid deforestation, also pointing out that he had started planting trees around his country home.
He further expressed his lamentation, saying “today if you plant cassava without putting fertilizer, you cannot even get a small tuber that you can do anything with. That is a major effect.”
“When I was young, we used to go to the farm and scoop fish from the ponds. Now, there are no ponds to scoop from anymore.”
“Climate change, oil pollution and many other man-made disasters have destroyed our ecosystem completely. When I built my country home some years ago, monkeys were jumping very close to my windows and I could observe them. I tell you I have also contributed, I deforested the whole thing around me and then , today, I can’t see Monkeys anymore.”
“But I have decided to do something. I am planting palm trees, hoping that in the next five, six, seven years, things would return to normal”.
He stated that people are suffering from the effect of climate change, expressing gratitude to the State government for setting up the health insurance commission with social health insurance to cater for the health needs of the less privileged in the villages that are suffering more from climate change.
“They have done so well. Today, the commission has registered well over two million people, representing about thirty percent of Deltans who are registered into the scheme, receiving quality and affordable health care.
“The vulnerable groups, pregnant women, children under five years and the elderly are benefiting immensely from this programme”.
Suggesting the way forward, the DG said: “I think we should do a Pari passu action. Action to stop actions of climate change”.
He commended the Univeristy for the programme, stressing the need for all to be aware of the dangers of climate change.
He stressed the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 3, focusing on the necessity for everyone to enjoy good health, “the government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is deeply committed to this cause and is determined to prioritize the goal aimed at achieving universal health coverage.”
On some of the initiatives aimed at advancing SDG 3, the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP) for students, stands out, “all the Universities in Delta have responded very well. We have registered well over 12, 000 students into the scheme from two universities only and before the next session, I am sure we will have well over 50, 000 students.”
