Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has approved the establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research’s (NIMR) South South Out-Station in Asaba, saying that supporting medical research was a sure way of improving the health of Nigerians.

Speaking on Thursday when he received the Director-General, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and management team of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), in his office, Governor Okowa urged big companies, members of the organised private sector and individuals to support medical research in the country so as to improve the health of the common man.

Dr. Okowa who promised to fast track the establishment of the outstation in Asaba, said that the outstation would bring research closer to the people and lead to closer collaboration and partnership with Medical School of the State University Teaching Hospital and other health institutions as well as provide employment for Deltans.

“For us in Delta state it is a privilege for us to have an NIMR outstation and it is something that we must take seriously, we are going to put the processes in place in order for us to have the office in the state, there is a lot to be gained by the fact that NIMR is bringing a research facility closer to us and the fact that we also have medical institutions, it is necessary that having this outstation will create room for collaboration for research between our medical institutions and NIMR and this collaboration and partnership is definitely needed,” he said.

“I hope that Nigerians will realise the importance of supporting NIMR especially for our top companies who have opportunities to assist because it is one of the easiest ways of assisting the poor; whatever money is put into the research institute you are actually in one manner or the other beginning to assist the poor as the larger number of Nigerians are resident here and the more we are able to improve on our research and policy direction the more we are able to impact on their health status. I think that Nigerians should take partnering with the institute very seriously,” he added.

While commending NIMR for their research efforts in the country, Senator Okowa called on Nigerians to cooperate with the institute in its researches into communicable and non-communicable diseases opining that the researches enrich “policy decisions, directions and provides new approaches to achieving the goals of the health sector.”

Earlier, Prof. Ujah said they were in Asaba to explore the possibility of establishing the Institute’s South-South Out-station and solicit for the support of the state government to achieve this explaining that the institute already have outstations in other zones.

“Some of the benefits derivable form the establishment of the outstation include increased tempo of health research and capacity development which will lead to evidence based quality health care for the people of the South South Zone; employment generation and wealth creation Deltans; collaboration with the State University Medical School in areas of health research and capacity development and attraction of donor funding and support as well as international partnership for development expected to enhance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs],” he said