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RSG Kicks Off Weekly Clean-Up Exercise
In line with its vision and mission of restoring Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt to its ‘Garden City’ status and maintain a high sanitation standard in the entire state, the government, yesterday, kicked-off a weekly “clean-up” exercise for work and business places in the state. The government has also re-opened Ikoku spare parts market in Port Harcourt.
The maiden edition of the weekly “clean-up’ exercise which took place at Creek Road and Rumuwoji (Mile 1 market as well as Mile 3 park was supervised by Environment Commissioner, Barr. Kingsely Chindah and Chairman, Rivers State Sanitation Authority, Mr Nnamdi Wokekoro.
Speaking at the occasion, Barr. Chindah said there is a renewed zeal on the part of government this New Year to clean-up the state and ensure that Port Harcourt is restored to its lost glory of Garden-City, while enjoining the people of the state to team up with government in actualizing this in 2010.
Chindah said it was the lull noticed in the response to the monthly sanitation exercise in the state by operators of work and business places, such as abattoirs, markets and parks that necessitated the introduction of the weekly ‘clean-up exercise in such places.
Stressing that the exercise, scheduled for Thursdays will be a continuous one, the Environment Commissioner thanked the market men and women who do business at two markets and park for participating in the maiden edition of the exercise in the state weekly ‘clean-up’ campaign and enjoin them not to relent in the coming weeks and month of the exercise.
Said he: “Year 2010 has been set aside to ensure the sanitation success of the state in order to return Port Harcourt to its Garden City Status -during the monthly sanitation exercise, operators of public places like Abattoir parks and markets are at risk since they are not known to massively partake in the exercise. The measure (weekly ‘clean-up) became necessary to rid such places of refuse”.
Chindah appealed to council chairman in the 23 local government areas of the state to ensure their council actively participant in the state monthly sanitation exercise by mandating all Environmental Health Officers in their council exercise.
Chindah also ordered the reopening of the Ikoku spare parts market, which was closed due to poor sanitary condition and warned that they should comply with environmental regulations or face sanction.
Earlier, Mr Wokekoro commended the traders who thronged out to clean-up their environment and regretted that mechanics were not part of the exercise assuring that they would join in subsequent exercises since it’s a weekly campaign.
Wokekoro appealed to operators at the designated public places to embrace the weekly exercise and ensure they keep fate with cleaning their environment of their business and work places, adding that the task of cleaning-up Rivers State should not be left for government alone but should be the responsibility of all.
Justus Awaji
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.
