News
NUJ Tasks RSTV On Quality Programming
The chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Rivers State chapter, Mr.
Opaka Dokubo has charged the management of Rivers State Television Authority
(RSTV) not to relent in churning out programmes that would benefit the
generality of the Rivers people despite the challenges facing the broadcasting
organisation.
Mr. Opaka, who was speaking when members of the State
Executive Council of the NUJ paid a
courtesy visit to RSTV said the visit was intended to review and cement
existing relationship between the state
NUJ and the TV house.
He explained that RSTV
was strategic and important to the Rivers people and expressed
the hope that the station would
meet the expectations of the people.
The NUJ boss reminded the management of the
competitiveness of television broadcasting in the state and called on them to
raise the standard of broadcasting in
order not to be out classed and thrown
out of business.
“If we do not raise our game, it would be a matter of time
before we are out of the business”, he said.
While acknowledging
the challenge of power generation faced by the TV house and its location
which is also a challenge to staff, he praised the doggedness of the management
for keeping the station going.
Mr. Opaka urged the staff, especially those of the NUJ to
put in their best, adding that RSTV
was not an obscure organisation because its importance of the
national level cannot be overemphasised.
According to him, the state government has a lot to do to
make the RSTV grow in order to encourage the efforts of the staff to compete favourably with a other television
stations in the state, so “government should make imputs towards that
direction.”
In his speech, the General Manager of RSTV, Mr. Tonye Ekong,
who was represented by the Director, Programmes, Oriselem Dokubo, said
that it was important for the NUJ and RSTV to work together as a team with
understanding.
She described the visit as a welcome development and
pledged, management’s commitment to ensuring quality service.
She said it was not possible to meet all the expectations of
the staff in view of the challenges of working with obsolete equipment.
The director of programmes said the issue of cameras, lighting and power
generation was overbearing on the finances of the Authority and hoped that the
planned digitalisation of the station by 2015 would be realisable.
“Digitalisation is political and in the hands of government just as the much
talked about media village”, she said and challenged members of the NUJ to be more daring in their reports,
explaining, “we are the ones to bring to light what the people should know”.
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.
