EDSG Inaugurates Health Research Ethics Committee

• Commences domestication and implementation of National Health Act 2014

Edo State government formally kicked off the domestication and implementation of the National Health Act 2014 recently as the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria inaugurated the Health Research Ethics Committee to improve the quality of health research in the State.

Inaugurating the Committee at the Ministry’s Conference room in Benin City, Prof, Akoria outlined its Terms of Reference (TOR) which include reviewing research proposal and protocols in order to ensure that research conducted by relevant Institutions, agencies and establishment will promote health, contribute to the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases and disability or result in cures on communicable and non-communicable diseases.

She added that the TOR would also include granting approval for research by relevant institutions, agencies or establishment at instances where research proposals and protocols meet the Ethical standards of the Committee; to perform any other functions that may be referred to the Committee by the Honourable Commissioner of Health.

In her words: “it is not business as usual in Edo State. A lot is changing and much of the change is a focus on regulation and what we are doing today is an integral part of the new regulatory framework that we are driving and we are focusing on Ethical Regulation of Research”.

The commissioner therefore admonished Members of the Committee to ensure that their operations are top notch as they were carefully selected from various health backgrounds and are Square pegs in Square holes noting that much is expected from them. She appreciated them for accepting to serve in the Committee.

Responding, the Chairman of the Health Ethics Research Committee, Dr. Omoye Bello, appreciated the Commissioner for Health on behalf of the Committee Members for the opportunity given them to serve in that capacity. He further pledged that the committee would not disappoint the expectations of the Edo State Government and the people.

The Committee held its first inaugural meeting immediately after Inauguration.