News
Amaechi Laments Ngo Black-out …Indicts Council Chairman
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the absence of power supply at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area and blamed the council chairman for giving priority to building a legislative chamber rather than repair a broken down generator.
The state chief executive who yielded to the general demand of the people to assist in the provision of light in the area yesterday during his official visit to the area randomly picked a three man committee including a woman to constitute a committee that would be empowered by government to undertake the procurement, transportation and installation of a new generator to replace the bad one.
Governor Amaechi said the state government is determined to pursue the rural electrification policy of the present administration under the 2010 fiscal year.
He said the decision is aimed at providing the communities in the area with electricity to encourage small scale business enterprises that would have a multiplier effect on the rural economy.
According to Amaechi, the state government would renovate the Ngo general hospital, equip it and post medical officers to attend to the people’s health needs, in addition to completing the model health centres in the various communities to handle minor health cases.
Governor Amaechi also reiterated his government’s promise to provide the communities with potable water to check the outbreak of water borne diseases, noting that the construction and equipping of model primary schools would be completed to enhance the standard of education in the state.
At Ataba community, the governor charged the people to re-integrate all interest groups and embrace peaceful co-existence as it would be the only way for government to provide them with more basic amenities.
He directed the council chairman to liaise with the state ministry of works to reactivate the abandoned federal government water project before February ending to enable the Ataba people have the benefit of the water scheme.
The governor assured the people that the Unity Road project is on course, emphasizing that the slow pace of work witnessed recently by the contracting firm handling the project would be intensified as soon as money for the next milestone is paid to them.
The state chief executive, who also visit Ikuru town, Asarama and Unyeada held interaction sessions with the people to appreciate the problems of the various communities in Andoni local government area.
In their separate speeches, the people of Unyeada and Asarama communities said the influx of vehicular traffic through the few internal roads in the area have put them in a state of despair and requested for the construction of internal as well as link roads.
The people lauded the purposeful leadership of Governor Amaechi as it is poised to transform all parts of the state, particularly for bringing peace and the enabling environment for investors to operate.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
