EDOHERMA PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

EDOHERMA PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Edo State Health Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) introduced the Agency and highlighted its statutory mandate of regulating, monitoring, licensing, and ensuring compliance with minimum health standards across health facilities and services in Edo State. She explained that EDOHERMA was established by the Edo State Government through a law signed by His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on 5th December 2025 and commenced operations in February 2026.

The CEO stated that the Agency is responsible for regulating a wide range of health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, nursing and maternity homes, medical laboratories, alternative medicine centres, and other healthcare establishments across all relevant sectors. She clarified that EDOHERMA does not have the statutory mandate to regulate pharmacies but would regulate their attached clinics and medical laboratory services if they offer it. 

She explained that the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce EDOHERMA, present its mandate, and strengthen collaboration with the Min. of women Affairs and social development  According to her, effective health regulation is best achieved through synergy and partnership rather than isolated efforts.

The CEO identified several areas for collaboration, including the monitoring of women and maternal health centres, shelters, sexual assault referral centres, orphanages, and other social care institutions providing health-related services. She emphasized the importance of establishing effective referral pathways for emergencies within these facilities.

She further informed the house that EDOHERMA regulates and grants approval for medical outreaches across the State. She requested that organizations conducting health outreaches should notify the Agency in advance to enable proper certification, monitoring, documentation, data usage and follow-up in the event of any post-outreach emergencies.

The CEO also highlighted the Agency's plans for digital collaboration, explaining that certified health facilities and public health spaces would be accessible through EDOHERMA's digital verification platform. Members of the public would be able to verify whether a facility, shelter, or orphanage has met the required health standards before accessing its services.

She stated that facilities found not to meet the required standards would be given timelines to address identified deficiencies. Where compliance is not achieved, EDOHERMA would collaborate with relevant authorities to conduct joint monitoring and enforce compliance, including closure of facilities where necessary.

The CEO reaffirmed that health regulation, health standards and affordable healthcare in Edo State are permanent priorities. She stressed that protecting the health and safety of every resident of Edo State remains the Agency's primary responsibility. Preventive measures are to be put in place to reduce morbidity and mortality. While acknowledging that EDOHERMA is still a young Agency, having operated for only about five months, she noted that significant progress has already been made and appealed for sustained partnership and collaboration to further strengthen healthcare regulation and improve public health outcomes across the State.

In response to the discussion, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs invited Mr. John McDonald to provide an update on the proposed outreaches.

The Honourable Commissioner assured EDOHERMA of her Ministry's commitment to supporting EDOHERMA. She promised to provide the Agency with a comprehensive directory of all orphanages and shelters in Edo State to facilitate collaboration and effective planning as some of these facilities were already giving them some problems. She also reaffirmed her Ministry's willingness to partner with EDOHERMA in areas of mutual interest within her Ministry's mandate for the good of the Edo State Government and supporting the SHINE Agenda.

She also informed EDOHERMA of their innovative plans on adoption and fostering homes. The meeting concluded with a group photograph involving representatives of both Ministry and the Agency.

Communication and Publicity Unit

July 2026

#HealthStandards

#CommunityBasedHealthServices

#Regulation 

#EDOHERMALaw